29. December 2023
Beverage innovations: Pioneering health benefits, functionality and new flavour profiles
Across the globe, the quest for healthier, more sustainable living has had an enormous impact on the beverage sector. Consumers are more confident in actively seeking a healthier lifestyle, creating rising demand for beverages that offer more than just hydration. In their pursuit of a more wholesome way of life, empowered consumers express their needs distinctly – from sugar reduction to functionality. Visionary companies like Döhler are leading the way by focusing on health and wellness, responding to and encouraging these healthier consumption habits. Modern consumer lifestyles require more than just a drink – beverages serve as supplements for a better human nutrition. Döhler offers a comprehensive portfolio of natural and sustainably sourced ingredients and ingredient systems that are the perfect basis for creating healthy and tasty beverages with functional benefits and less sugar. In line with its ‘Sustainable by nature’ ethos, Döhler places great importance on natural sourcing and sustainable production processes, reinforcing the industry’s progress towards a more sustainable, health-centric future.
Healthier sugar-reduced drinks
Sugar consumption has long been a topic of global concern. Saudi Arabia’s residents rank among the world’s largest consumers of calories from sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) – an alarming trend which could further fuel the increasing rates of obesity in the region. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, and following on from the sugar tax introduced in 2017, in August 2022 the Ministry of Education imposed a ban on soft drinks in schools due to their excessive sugar content.
With the tide turning against high sugar content, the juice sector – a prominent player in the beverage industry – is in the midst of a revolution. A rising number of juice manufacturers are recalibrating their product portfolios, incorporating healthier variants such as no-added-sugar options. This shift towards healthier products was evident in 2022, when coconut and other plant waters emerged as top performers in Saudi Arabia, with off-trade volume sales growing by 6% to 1.8 million litres (source: Euromonitor).
Alongside traditional sweeteners, Döhler offers products for sugar reduction that allow a substantial and natural reduction in sugar content. These alternatives include not only caloric sugar reduction options such as fruit, vegetable and fermented juices, but also non-caloric taste modulation products like natural essences from the MultiSense® Flavour collection: MultiSense® Mouthfeel, MultiSense® Sweet and MultiSense® Masking.
MultiSense® Sweet offers the potential to cut sugar by up to 30%, eliminating the need for extra sweeteners. It heightens the sweetness profile and texture of products by enhancing their primary and overall sweet taste. MultiSense® Mouthfeel essences offer a rich and authentic taste sensation, ensuring that beverages with less sugar do not taste diluted. MultiSense® Masking is the perfect addition to sweeteners and can effectively hide the characteristic aftertaste of products like stevia.
Functionality
The growing aversion to artificiality in beverages promises rising demand for bottled water, with innovative segments like functional bottled water emerging as frontrunners. Health-conscious consumers – especially those who prioritize staying hydrated throughout their day – are now looking for added functional value in their water. In Egypt, functional bottled water sales surged by 15% in 2022, resulting in 40 million litres in off-trade volume sales.
As bottled water gains momentum, the beverage market is not seeing a corresponding decline in CSDs and juice drinks. Instead, there is a growing trend for integrating functional benefits into these categories. Not-from-concentrate (NFC) juices resonate with consumers seeking higher nutritional value. Retailers are adapting swiftly, providing more shelf space to innovative beverages that respond to health-focused consumers’ demands. This includes drinks with claims of functional benefits, swift hydration and energy boosts. CSDs are also undergoing a transformation, with those offering healthier or sustainable attributes projected to see surging demand in the coming years.
As consumers lean towards beverages with added functional benefits, companies at the forefront of this movement offer precisely what the market demands. Döhler’s broad portfolio of Natural SuperHEROES botanical extracts offers a wide range of functional added health values – from Natural EnergyHEROES and MentalHEROES such as acerola, guarana, moringa, baobab or green tea extract, to RelaxationHEROES and ImmuneHEROES like rooibos extract. Döhler is committed to Nutritional Excellence, providing the world’s growing population with a healthier and more sustainable diet.
New and better taste experiences
Consumer preferences relating to flavour trends have been evolving over recent years. In Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the CSD sector has been noticeably shifting towards more novel, exciting and sophisticated flavour profiles. While traditional favourites maintain their stronghold, there is a subtle emerging interest in beverages with more nuanced taste profiles, hinting at a discerning young adult demographic.
One great example is malt drinks. Having enjoyed longstanding popularity in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, they are now experiencing a resurgence with a modern twist. Inventive new flavours like coffee and pineapple are being integrated. This goes hand in hand with the trend towards tropical flavours across both categories: CSDs and ‘water plus’ drinks, and juice and juice drinks in the UAE and Oman. Pineapple, mango, pomegranate, coconut, kiwi and guava have emerged as favourites, highlighting a collective inclination for tropical, refreshing tastes that reflect the region’s taste preferences. Döhler offers a broad portfolio of malt extracts and natural flavours including tropical fruit. With comprehensive expertise in the development of beverage applications and deep knowledge of how flavours combine with other ingredients, Döhler works with its customers to formulate flavours perfectly tailored to individual needs and create true Multi-Sensory Experiences.
