LycoRed has appointed Marlene Comon as regional sales manager for the French food and beverage market. The company says that Comon will enhance Lycored’s focus on marketing its natural food colourants line and vitamin and mineral premixes to food and beverages companies.
The company notes that analysis of new product launches tracked by Innova Market Insights in France using natural colours revealed a steady increase in activity through 2011 and 2012. In 2012, natural colours were used in 10% of product launches and the top market categories for such launches were gum, cakes, pastries and sweet goods, ice cream and yoghurt.
“It’s exciting to have Comon with her impressive track record as part of LycoRed’s EMEA sales team,” said Ilan Ron, EVP global sales and marketing. “Her extensive experience in the food and beverage market in France is an important asset, not just to LycoRed but also for the food and beverage developers in this important market.”
“She brings many years of experience in sales for the French food industry and has a vast knowledge of implementing sales strategies and management of key accounts and will be reporting to Laurence Le Goff, global key accounts manager for both the French and the overseas market.”
Comon was previously account manager of France for Tate &Lyle from 2004 through 2012. She holds a masters degree from the Ecole Superieure d'agriculture d'Angers, France, as well as a marketing degree from Wyoming University, United States.
“The world colourant market is estimated in US$20 billion and the market growth is estimated to reach 10%,” said Philippe Millet, managing editor of Actif's Magazine. “The main markets are Europe (US$7 billion), US (US$5 billion), Japan (US$2 billion). The functional foods market in France is estimated at €2-3 billion, with main categories as: dairy, oils and margarine, breakfast cereals and bakery.”
Ron points out that the shift toward natural food colourants in the food and beverage market continues to grow, as “consumers associate natural with quality.”
“The rising preference for all natural colours also is fuelled by the increased awareness of food safety and health issues—consumers demand natural and healthy alternatives to the artificial food colouring,” he added.
