Herza Schokolade, the manufacturer of functional chocolate, is to debut what the company describes as ground-breaking developments in the functional bar category as well as in small chocolate pieces for muesli, baked goods and ice-cream.
As a contract manufacturer, the company produces customer specific energy and protein bars for major brandowners in the segments of sport nutrition, diet food, health and lifestyle products. The small-sized chocolate pieces and compound coatings, however, are said to be versatile and add a particular value to a wide range of final products.
With a wide range of functional chocolate pieces in different shapes and flavours, Herza believes that it gives food manufacturers a way to set their products apart from the competition, whether in the premium or economy categories. The company's chocolate pieces are available in bake-stable, abrasion-resistant variants for baked goods and bake mixes, as well as decorative versions for private label ice-cream, frozen cakes, cereal and muesli.
New products include "Mini Clusters." These crunchy chocolate pieces give a second bite effect and lend foods a hand-made character, according to the company. They can be used as ingredients or as a chocolate snack in their own right, for example as a miniature version of familiar brand-name products. The chocolate Mini Clusters are also claimed to be ideal for many combinations of chocolate, cereal, nuts and fruit.
The energy and protein bar category is seeing sustained, above-average growth, said Herza. With new Herza developments, the company claims that marketers can generate additional revenue. Among the new product ideas are protein bars with 58% protein content. They are, said Herza, particularly suitable for casual as well as more ambitious athletes who want to keep calories down while building muscle mass. In the diet category, the company has developed a fibre bar that is said to feature an extremely long satiety effect.
"Colour-Snackers" are described by Herza as an absolute eye catcher - the world's first single-colour multilayer bars. The bar and fruit filling are described as having the same attention-getting colour as the outside glaze. Whether red, green or other nuances, these colourful bars are claimed to offer the potential for unique product differentiation in the bar category, as also the "White Pure Chocolate" protein bar, which consists only of chocolate.
