“Ingredients are plug-and-play, offering a faster route to innovation, and new ingredients can benefit any producers, anywhere in the world, from traditional dairy producers to innovative startups, and from price-sensitive to high-end markets. Sunflower protein and probiotics are two examples of these ingredients.”
Cloe Morel, New Business Manager
Lifestyle nutrition – go for fresh, natural and pure
Growing demand for health, combined with changing consumers diets, is highlighting the need for innovative ingredient usage. Proteins, complex carbohydrates, and probiotic content are all growing in importance to meet these needs. Plant-based protein, often from seeds and grain, appeals to the growing flexitarian, vegetarian and vegan population, who are more likely to be seeking out Food Supplement & Nutrition products to ensure their protein intake. Vitamin content will grow in importance for all products as the category becomes more mainstream and part of consumers’ balanced diets.
| Benefit | Emerging ingredients |
|---|---|
| Cognitive/mental health | Beta carotene, Ellagic acid |
| Energy | L-carnitine |
| Blood sugar control | Chicory root fiber |
| Fibre & digestive health | Dextrin, Guar gum |
| Fat burning/metabolism | Coleus barbatus extract |
| General health | Seeds & dried fruit |
| Protein | Insect protein; Plant-based protein |
Sports nutrition – add a plant-based product to your brand
Whey protein is strongly associated with the core body-building consumer segment and remains the primary ingredient in Sports Nutrition. Creatine is also popular, as its energy-producing properties appeal to those engaged in endurance sports. The increasing popularity of such sports, such as triathlons, canoeing and long-distance running, is also a major driver in the popularity of glutamine which supports the body during prolonged endurance exercise. Consumer desire for “natural” products is a driver of both glutamine and new plant-based proteins.
| Benefit | Emerging ingredients |
|---|---|
| Protein | Plant protein, insect protein, Keto protein |
| Fibre & digestive health | Cyclodextrin (gels) |
| Joint pain relief | Collagen |
| Inflammation & injury relief | Cannabis/CBD |
| Antioxidants | Botanicals; Adaptogens |
| Fat burning/metabolism | Biotin |
Special Nutrition – go for naturally sourced, personalised ingredients
Minerals and healthy fats are key ingredients in this category, as they have an important role in supporting the body in a variety of different ways. There is also a growing demand for personalised health. Combined with changing diets, such as the desire for natural and plant-based products, this highlights the need for innovative ingredient usage. New plant-based proteins and probiotic content are some of the ingredients that are growing to meet these needs. Customers suffering from a range of different diseases, including diabetes and heart disease, can get the nutrition they need to aid their ongoing health management via products with these ingredients.
| Benefit | Emerging ingredients |
|---|---|
| General health | Vitamins & minerals |
| Energy | Ubiquinol |
| Lowers insulin & blood sugar | Metformin |
| Protein | Non-dairy protein ingredients |
| Anti-inflammatory | Emodin |
| Brain health | Plant-based equivalents to Omega-3 and DHA fatty acids |
Medical nutrition – ensure a steady supply of emerging ingredients
The main ingredients in medical nutrition are vitamins and minerals. They have a key role in supporting the body in a variety of different ways alongside proteins & amino acids, dietary fibres and omega-3 fatty acids. Patients suffering from a range of different diseases, including cancer and heart disease, can be prescribed extra nutrients by their doctors. Emerging ingredients in this subcategory include CBD, alternative proteins, and products which are free from dairy, gluten and nuts.
| Benefit | Emerging ingredients |
|---|---|
| Cognitive/mental health | Curcumin, Beta Carotene, L-theanine |
| Energy | L-carnitine |
| Heart health | Resveratrol, Magnesium |
| Fibre & digestive health | Dextrin |
| Protein | Soy protein isolate, Egg white peptide |
| Free-from | Corn powder (gluten-free) |
We help you develop your next secret potion
With our Ingredients Services from Tetra Pak, we can support you from an even earlier stage than before, speeding up your product development process considerably. “We have Product Development Centres around the world where customers can test new recipes. We help ensure a good positioning, and we even advise on package claims to comply with legislation”, says Cloe Morel. And once the recipe is developed and tested, we can either sell you the ingredients or find you a reliable partner from our global network of ingredient suppliers. After years of unsteady supply chains, leading to fluctuations in quality, availability and price, isn’t the thought of uninterrupted production quite satisfying?
1) Source: GlobalData, 2021 I *Primary interviews with manufacturers
2) Source: Castellana JC, Gazulla MT, Melero LM, de Lemus CF, Gil AM (2024) The Impact of Saccharomyces boulardii and Kluyveromyces marxianus Postbiotics on Gastrointestinal Health and Psychological Well-Being. J Nutraceuticals Food Sci Vol.9 No.1: 40.