Food & Beverage

A look at the diversifying sports nutrition market

Manufacturers are offering innovative solutions for achieving dairy-like taste and texture in dairy-free products. 

The sports drinks market is continuing to diversify, with consumers driving demand for healthier sports drinks products. This demand for healthy drinks-coupled with growing niches that have very specific functional needs-is likely to open up new opportunities for brands that fine-tune their formulations and marketing in response.

Icon Foods says the sweetener is designed to help achieve clean-label sugar reduction for edible cannabis products.

NutraProtein Power Blend is formulated with plant proteins, essential amino acids, and other nutrients, says the company.

Cranberry-ingredients supplier Fruit d’Or Nutraceuticals (Villeroy, QC, Canada) is presenting innovative new delivery formats for its nutraceutical-grade cranberry ingredients, which the company says are standardized for their high content of proanthocyanidins (PACs). The new delivery formats include beverages as well as “popping” crystals that burst on the tongue once consumed.

Companies like Kashi and Bunge are introducing ingredients and products certified by Quality Assurance International as “certified transitional,” which the companies say provides a pathway for farmers who want to convert their farmland to organic.

The company will debut the first ever 100% USDA certified organic, U.S.–grown Organic Hempseed at next month’s Natural Products Expo West trade show in Anaheim, CA.

According to Applied Food Sciences, its PurCaf ingredient is now the first Non-GMO Project Verified caffeine ingredient currently on the market.

Looking back on 2017 and spotting trends for 2018.

Plant protein sources-both novel and familiar-are set to win big with consumers this year. 

Curcumin-no longer merely a culinary spice or folk medicine, but an ingredient with a track record of research-backed health benefits-is set for another big year in 2018.  

Caffeine's myriad benefits for body and brain make the alkaloid a consumer favorite. 

Since its commercial debut in 2008, stevia has become an increasingly popular and natural way to sweeten beverages without calories.

The company says that its first food-grade potassium chloride facility will help manufacturers lower products' sodium content by up to 50%. 

Comax noted that while the global yogurt market is set to grow at a 6.5% CAGR from 2017 to 2022, the U.S. yogurt market declined 0.3% in 2016.

The report found that sales of non-dairy milk-which Mintel defines as both refrigerated and shelf-stable ready-to-drink almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, and other refrigerated milk substitutes-have steadily grown since 2012. 

The newest research on blood sugar nutraceuticals is aimed at both at-risk and diabetic individuals where they shop: in the functional food aisle.

Top flavor houses and experts predict which flavor trends will be big in 2018.

The most unexpected supplements sales trends from last year, according to SPINS.

The study focused on protein powder, ready-to-drink protein drinks, and protein bars.

According to the study authors, this is the first study to “comprehensively characterize the physiological responses to slowly digestible starch…in in vitro and in vivo studies.”

In the survey, Lycored also asked 329 consumers which five fruits and vegetables on a list of 14 they most associate with health.

Healthy soft drink choices see less sugar and more coconut and kombucha.

“Ugly” ingredients look better every day.

Satialgine DVA is a new line of alginate ingredients for use in premium dairy and nondairy dessert applications.

Research updates on resveratrol.

Adventurous tea-drinkers are seeking innovative, sophisticated flavors like rose, turmeric, and matcha.

The sweetener can now be used as a “general-purpose, non-nutritive sweetener for foods and beverages.”

The biggest challenges and opportunities supplement retailers face today.