As food and market trends are ever changing, adaptability and reliable ingredient sources are as important as ever. Over the last year we’ve seen shifts in consumer behavior brought on by the chaos and confusion of the Covid pandemic. Many consumers turned their focus to one of the few things they could control: the food they put in their bodies.
In 2020 alone, 130 million people in the U.S. searched for Fair Trade and ethical ingredients online, and according to Nielsen the U.S. sustainability market is projected to reach $150 billion in sales this year. Elderberry and acerola are growing in popularity for immunity support. The lesser known Maqui Berry is being sought out with for its cholesterol and blood sugar controlling antioxidants. The desire to cut out sugars, preservatives and artificial colors and flavors is growing and not likely to slow down any time soon.
One of the biggest questions facing food producers today is: how do you react quickly to emerging trends, while maintaining peak machining performance, all without breaking the bank? A simple answer to this question is: a partnership with Stewart Ingredient Systems. Our product developers and R&D team boast a combined 100+ years in functional product formulation and innovation.
We have answers to virtually every ingredient issue, we have extensive experience optimizing products for different machining and equipment needs, and our in-house purchasing systems ensure that our variable costs are as competitive as any manufacturer in the category.
The market will never stop changing. Align yourself with an ingredient supplier who can help you innovate, pivot, and thrive no matter what comes next.
Fill out our Sample Request Form or call 312-254-3539 today to get started.
Over the course of a very difficult year, one thing that remained a constant source of inspiration and innovation has been creating new products along with our valued clients. While the in-person meetings around a tasting panel inside bakeries has been all but eliminated from our itinerary, the development of new and exciting projects has not slowed down as the baking industry continues to introduce new items to the ever changing marketplace. As ever, Stewart Ingredient Systems flexible and fast paced development services have led to multiple nationwide launches of new items developed post-March shutdown.
Given all of the product innovation that SIS engages in on a daily basis, we are very familiar with chasing the trends of the day and find ourselves meeting the consumer in increasingly health and wellness focused grocery aisles. This has been a decade plus long process and the opportunity in the health and wellness fields has grown tremendously during that time. So while health and wellness is going nowhere, its crucial to note that Cheese and Cream Cheese pastries aren’t either. In the Pastry and Sweet Goods categories, product innovation with Cream Cheese & Cheese varieties saw a 36% compound annual growth rate between 2017 & 2019.
Moving on from incremental improvements in Health and Wellness snacking, complete re-imagination of formulas is required to keep the attention of a more educated consumer.
Summer is ice cream season and what better time to talk about variegates, and Stewart Ingredient Systems’ product offerings in this category.
As we have advertised, and as demonstrated in this space in previous posts, SIS is one of, if not, the longest standing and most experienced Low Water Activity fillings developer and manufacturer in the country. Our experience in this field quite literally goes back to the first introduction into the US market of fruit-filled breakfast cereals more than three decades ago.
“The landscape for prepared foods has been changing rapidly over the past decade, due largely to changes in consumer perception about the healthfulness, nutritional value, safety, and sustainability of prepared foods”. Prepared Foods Magazine, February 2019
Increasingly, consumers are motivated to reduce or eliminate sugar and/or consume alternate natural sweeteners.