4 March 2024
News
August 11, 2023
Consumers’ unwavering sweet tooth for confectionery is never going away. But the motives that drive their purchasing decisions most certainly are – especially in the colorful and delicious world of gummies.
For example, 30% of people now say they are flexitarian1 and are thus looking to reduce the amount of animal-based products they eat; and there are now 1.5 billion vegetarians and 88 million vegans in the world according to the World Animal Foundation2.
Meanwhile, 72% of consumers are trying to limit or avoid sugar entirely 3. Meanwhile, the global gummy market continues to boom. In fact, it stood at an astonishing $21.40 billion in 2022, with a predicted CAGR of 11.8% from 2022-2030.4
Clearly, consumers love how gummies make them feel – not least that winning combination of comfort with a pure sensory rush. However, they are also fast waking up to the possibilities now available to them - and their kids - for enjoying guilt-free treats in a healthier and more sustainable way.
We are now seeing a new generation of gummies on the market featuring all kinds of health & nutritional claims. Therefore, for manufacturers looking to grab more gummy market share, the most obvious answer is to give confectionery lovers the best of both worlds - in novel and differentiated ways. Of course, this is not an easy job. Which is why the team at dsm-firmenich has been hard at work compiling our guide to creating the perfect gummy bear. Here’s a brief taste of how.
Our starting point is the all-important texture (after all, they’re called gummies for good reason). So how can we create that familiar gummy bear mouthfeel in a way that appeals to more health-conscious consumers? Our solution for vegan confectionery is a broad portfolio of natural fruit-based pectins. These sustainable ingredients create a range of delicious textures - from soft and chewy to firm and brittle - to create the perfect gummy texture.
Of course, the vibrant, vivid appearance is another major attraction of gummy bears. This is another area where our team can help you deliver the perfect product – through our family of natural color solutions. Based on consumer research, the most popular color for confectionery products is orange5. Here, our range of carotenoids like beta-carotene and apocarotenal bring an intense color to gummies, ranging from opaque yellow to intense red…to bright orange!
There’s no getting away from it. Consumers - and especially kids - choose candy for the perceived sugar hit, and we’ll help you deliver it with less sugar - through our natural flavor solutions and non-artificial sweeteners. Our comprehensive sugar reduction toolkit offers the most extensive range of solutions available, ranging from flavor-based to stevia-and-monk fruit-based. We can help guide you to the most appealing solution for your market, brand - and consumer.
In fact, as part of our quest for the perfect gummy bear, our team can take you a step further - by fortifying gummies with additional nutrients. As one of the world’s leading nutritional companies, we have the broadest portfolio of vitamins available – including the highest quality vitamin A, B, C, D and E in various forms. These can then be combined in convenient, customized nutritional premixes that can supplement your gummies while supporting various claims: including immunity, bone health, healthy ageing, vision and cognitive function.
So, there you have it. Creating a yummy, guilt-free gummy bear that meets the evolving desires of consumers by delivering great taste, texture, color – and health benefits – is now more achievable than ever.
4 March 2024
11 August 2023