Staying on top of ever-shifting industry trends can be a challenge for product developers. Recognizing this, German-based Bösch Boden Spies is exploring ingredients and concepts to help steer its customers toward successful NPD. The company employed a “crowd testing” method to examine ingredient performance, during Anuga 2019, Kay Schumacher, Team Lead Product Application & Development, tells FoodIngredientsFirst. The natural fruit- and nut-based ingredients supplier presented two new fruit elements at the show to monitor reactions, while also highlighting its pronounced focus on transparency in the supply chain.
“Applications preferred by consumers – especially in the snacking and dairy sectors – is a vast terrain to cover. Our goal as a product developer and ingredient supplier is to provide ideas, products, ingredients and concepts to our customers so they can effectively follow the latest industry trends,” Schumacher notes.
At the show, the company presented two new potential fruit ingredients – sea buckthorn and haskap berry – to see how customers and consumers would react to them. “We are testing to see if the market is ready for these products and what the response to them will be. Most importantly, we want to see if they are relevant for us and our customers,” Schumacher says.
Also present at the company’s booth were the producers of the ingredients, which offered a chance for customers to understand the production and sourcing process. Long-lasting partnerships with its producers, as well as transparency, are a focal point for the company.
“Transparency in sourcing is a priority for us. We buy directly from the producers who grow and then freeze the products and directly deliver to our customers. We have a 100 percent vertically integrated supply chain,” Schumacher explains.
Berry power
Fruit-based applications maintain their appeal among consumers, with fruity flavors being among Innova Market Insights’ top flavor trends of the year. The mature fruit flavor category is still at the center of innovation with undiscovered exotic and tropical fruits inspiring product development. Fruit-based NPD has a positive image with consumers, according to the market researcher and flavor and health benefits are the most important sales arguments from consumers’ point of view.
Tapping into the trend, Bösch Boden Spies presented, for the first time at Anuga, dried fruits that complement its range of wild blueberries from Canada. Its portfolio already includes Individual Quick Freezing (IQF) blueberries, blueberry juice concentrate and blueberry puree. Supplier and brand partner Oxford Frozen Foods is among the world’s largest producers of wild berries and is now one of the first producers to introduce a dried version.
This berry variety, also known as haskap berries or blue honeysuckle, resembles blueberries and therefore the company has included them in their range. Haskap berries contain less water than traditional blueberries and, in its dried form, are roughly pea-sized. They are characterized by a complex, multifaceted flavor that is typical of wild fruit, with sweet and slightly savory components.
Nutritionally they are rich in antioxidants and fiber, and also contain vitamins C and A, as well as potassium, phosphorus and magnesium. Food producers can use dried haskap to enhance not only the flavor of their baked goods, chocolates, muesli bars, fruit-nut mixes and more – but also their functionality, the company notes.
“The haskap berry or honeyberry is hailed as the berry of long life and good vision. It is grown in Canada and the Nordic climatic zones and has a lot of health benefits. Due to its antioxidant-rich nutrients, it can hinder the development of free radicals. It also includes a seed, which boosts its fiber profile,” Schumacher says.
“However, my favorite attribute of the fruit is its color. It has a uniquely vibrant, deep purple color that can offer an interesting tint to dairy applications such as yogurts, smoothies and ice creams,” he adds.
The second fruit ingredient showcased is sea buckthorn – also known as hippophae. With its antioxidants, minerals and vitamins, the low-calorie golden fruit is in line with the trend for exotic superfruits. It also meets the desire of many consumers for a natural, healthy diet, according to the company.
“Sea buckthorn is well known for its high vitamin C content and its intense, fruity and slightly tangy taste, as well as its natural, vibrant orange color. Due to its color, taste and nutritional profile, the ingredient is suitable for confectionery applications, such as chocolate, trail mixes and cereals and cereal bars. It adds a healthy punch to product applications. Sea Buckthorn also includes a seed that adds a fiber content and further boosts its nutritional offering,” Schumacher notes.
“In Greece especially, from where our sea buckthorn is sourced, you can find organic farms who can supply organic products, tapping into the industry trend for naturality,” he adds.
Innovative fruit concepts
Besides dried and frozen fruits, Bösch Boden Spies and its brand partner, Terrafertil, also presented a goldenberry juice concentrate. The sweet and sour taste of the fruit lends a fine, fresh note to juices and spritzers. The versatile concentrate is also suitable for dairy products, as a secondary fruit or for fruit bars.
The company also showcased examples of applications from the field of dried fruits, nuts and preserves.
The fruit and nut ingredients supplier has enjoyed a year full of new releases with the introduction of Ocean Spray’s 50° Brix cranberry concentrate, which the company pegs as having numerous formulation advantages. The move was in response to the changing beverage market, where consumers are looking for healthy thirst quenchers that are low in sugar and high in added functional value.
In February, Bösch Boden Spies and Niagro – its brand partner since 2005 – launched a new acerola puree product, made from the acerola cherry, with 25 percent more vitamin C, than traditional cherries. The launch followed years of research looking into how acerola cherries can be used. For example, acerola puree can add an extra dose of vitamin C to yogurt, ice cream, smoothies, jams, fruit preparations for baked goods and baby food.
The company seeks to further explore potential applications for exotic fruit and nuts, boosting the proliferation of fresh and offbeat product development for its clients.
