Finding a Healthy Balance for the Food and Beverage Industry

Formulating consumer-preferred products for success in 2022

Today, the food and beverage industry is more competitive and complex than ever before. Shifting consumer expectations are driving increased demand for healthier and more sustainable products while businesses are facing increased supply challenges, regulatory requirements and record-level inflation rates — and the food and beverage industry is no exception. 

Together we can help you address the challenges of today and formulate products that will address the trends of tomorrow — all while keeping an eye on: 

  • Advancing nutrition, health and wellness claims or product perceptions  
  • Improving back panel nutrition statements and clean label ingredient lists  
  • Reducing costs  
  • Formulating sustainable food and beverage products 
  • Accelerating speed to market 
Portrait of a young sports woman in yellow t-shirt sitting indoors with healthy food and dumbbells on the table

What’s the right mix of features and benefits to meet consumer demands and capture market share?

We’re here to make better choices easier for you and your food and beverage consumers.

Connect with Ingredion for insights about consumer-desired health & wellness benefits, formulating differentiated products, and creating sustainable 360 value.

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Overcome industry challenges and turn consumer food and beverage trends into brand opportunities

Rely on our team of technical and market experts to make your program objectives a reality. At Ingredion, we have the agility and formulation expertise to help you innovate at an accelerated pace.  Create products with the right combination of features that will delight consumers and help differentiate your brand from the competition.    

Achieve your program objectives with our services and insights

Ingredion CATALYST™

Fast-track your product development with customized co-creation

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Ingredion study

Food science in a new landscape: COVID impacts and priorities for product development

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Nutrition, health, wellness and sustainability are top of mind around the globe 

The pandemic is driving consumers to expand their meaning of health and wellness to include the entire planet. Consumers view the food they eat, where the ingredients and products are sourced and manufactured as playing a vital role in leading an increasingly healthy lifestyle.  

2021 research indicates consumers are now more focused on healthy eating and learning about health & wellness versus the year prior

Highlights from 2021 health & wellness study:

  • 56% are more focused on eating a healthy diet
  • 53% are more interested in learning about health and wellness
  • 49% are actively seeking out more information about health topics

Consumers want to have their cake and eat it too 

Almost all consumers aspire to be healthier and make better food choices, but consumers largely differ in what they want and what they are willing to sacrifice.  

Previously, health and wellness trends were singularly focused on low carb, low fat, low sugar, hundred calorie packs, clean label or organic. There were clear definitions and a one-size-fits-all approach to adopting a trend. 

Today, consumers are taking a different, multi-faceted approach to making better food choices. Trend adoption is less rigid and more personalized — and Covid-19 has helped accelerate the pace and increase the intensity of this change.  

Consumers are now weighing their options and striving to improve incrementally, with decision-making criteria that are more flexible — balancing different needs for change by occasion, daypart or category, resulting in a lengthier list of consumer demands than ever before. 

Achieving a Healthy Balance–formulating for consumer-preferred products, better nutrition, and profitability

Product development teams are being challenged to rebalance the consumer value equation. 

Value is about delivering the right combination of consumer benefits that create brand loyalty and pricing power. Taste is paramount, familiarity and brands they love are three of the top five purchase drivers reported by consumers. 

But other on-trend attributes are also playing increasingly important roles: nutrition, health, wellness, clean label and sustainability. 

As a growing number of consumers want to make better food choices for themselves, their families and the planet, the balance of these attributes and how they align with your product development strategy depend on a variety of factors:

  • Brand position
  • Target audience 
  • Taste expectations 
  • Formulation viability 
  • Operational

Use our 360 Value approach to create food and beverage products

360 Value is a comprehensive program designed to help you achieve bigger wins for your business.

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Ingredion experts will collaborate with you using our 360 Value approach to design products that capitalize on these evolving areas of consumer value, enabling you to grow topline sales and improve profitability:

  • Well-being: High quality, nutritious products with the right combination of consumer-preferred benefits
  • Environmental impact: Sustainable-friendly solutions that can deliver on environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets
  • Value creation: Formulation solutions that can maximize the consumer benefits, optimize cost and promote brand loyalty

*Source: Health & Wellness 2021: Reimagining Well-being Amid COVID-19. Hartman Group. https://www.hartman-group.com/reports/37787061/health-wellness-reimagining-well-being-amid-covid-19

Find your Healthy Balance in 2022

Contact us to see how we can partner together to drive value for your business.

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Related food and beverage challenges and on-trend product offerings

Whether you’re trying to simplify labels, ensure products are delicious, or help consumers make healthier choices, Ingredion has the right ingredients and expertise to help. 

Clean label ingredients

Clean label is an influential movement, but how can manufacturers leverage its benefits and translate it into commercial success?

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Clinical nutrition

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Sugar reduction

Looking to solve a sugar-reduction or functional build-back challenge? Explore specialty sweeteners from Ingredion that don’t sacrifice taste or texture.

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Digestive and Gut Health

Create appeal and promote consumer well-being with solutions designed to maintain and improve digestive and gut health. Get started with the digestive health experts at Ingredion.

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Plant-based proteins

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Health management

Almost everyone you meet has something to say about eating and living healthier — so they can age gracefully and live longer. But at what point does healthy eating truly help manage health issues?

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