Ingredion’s latest global research shows a big shift in how consumers perceive sweetness — sugar is no longer the only standard for meeting their preferences.

Consumers are moving away from full sugar and artificial sweeteners, leaning more towards plant-based solutions like stevia. They’re unwilling to compromise their eating and drinking experiences, and these new sweetness preferences reinforce the complexities of balancing sweetness, flavour and taste.

As consumer demand for flavourful, superior-tasting, reduced-sugar products rises, our study uncovers new consumer sweetness segments, key drivers influencing sweetness preferences and preferred sugar replacement solutions, offering a roadmap for brands looking to stay ahead and grow.

What it means for consumers

Consumers now prefer different levels of sweetness, combined with satisfying flavour and taste, and they have varying opinions about specific sweetener ingredients. For instance, in India, nearly all consumers fell into the intense sweetness seekers category, whereas, in the U.S., U.K. and Brazil, two clear segments emerged: moderate sweetness seekers and intense sweetness seekers.

What it means for brands

Designing consumer-preferred foods and beverages requires the expertise, sugar reduction strategies and sugar replacement solutions to:

• Understand nuances in local consumer sweetness, flavour and taste preferences
• Apply the knowhow to dial in the right mix of sugar reduction ingredients
• Deliver the great tasting, reduced-sugar products consumers want — now

Ingredion can help you win your share of market with what’s next in sugar replacement solutions

Our landmark study is the latest example of how we’re leading the way innovating plant-based sugar reduction technologies and offering the best-tasting choices for discerning consumers who want better-for-you, clean label ingredients with superior taste.

In fact, we’ve spent years investing in research and innovation to remove the complexity of formulating with plant-based sweeteners for food and beverage brands — decreasing sugar reduction formulation timelines, simplifying ingredient labels and satisfying overall consumer taste and enjoyment.

So, we put our PURECIRCLE™ Clean Taste Solutions up against sugar, single glycoside Reb M and artificial sweeteners — and the results? We can deliver a superior taste experience in up to 50% sugar reduced products and can achieve 100% sugar reduction without compromising on taste.

With our new, game-changing consumer insights, deep sugar reduction expertise and our PURECIRCLE™ Clean Taste Solutions, we’re ready to support you with sugar reduction strategies and solutions to tailor sweetness challenges across categories, including beverage, dairy, sports nutrition, bakery, confectionery and savory — giving you the confidence to win your share of the sugar reduced market.