UK – Tate & Lyle, global supplier of food and beverage products, has released a report that highlights the importance of considering nutrition when manufacturing convenience foods.
The British-headquartered company says in its report named ‘Enhanced eating: A healthier future for convenience food’, that consumer urge to gain further nutrition from convenience foods.
It also looks into a range of technical solutions that can be used to boost the nutritional profile of convenience food items. This can be achieved by adding vitamins, minerals, fibres and proteins to food, according to the company.
According to the company, boosting the nutritional profile of their convenience foods offers as an opportunity for manufacturers grow profit margins and boost their market share.
Almost half (48%) of consumers would consider a product to be of good value if it has corresponding health benefits or is made with natural ingredients.
Kerstin Werner, the Category Development Manager for Soups, Sauces and Dressings at Tate & Lyle, commented, “Our research shows us that value for money remains very important to consumers, but that the concept of value is evolving. That’s why we refer to “Enhanced Eating”, which means choosing foods that are more nutritious.”
Werner explained that consumers know that what they eat can have a big impact on how healthy they are and how they feel.
That’s why they are prioritising products made with high-quality, healthier ingredients that deliver a balance of taste, texture and nutrition.
That means more than just taking out salt and sugar and adding in more nutrition; it’s also about building a narrative around a product that connects with consumers.
The report also details the impact of labelling and how it’s impacting buying decisions — including nutritional rating systems like the Nutri-Score and the non-HFSS system in the UK.
“The convenience food category is incredibly diverse. Across the category, there is an exciting opportunity to innovate and incorporate all the nutritional rewards that consumers are now looking for.” Werner added.
In another report title ‘Cool for kids: The inside scoop on ice cream’ the company’s data shows that over 40% of parents surveyed in the UK and Germany ranked nutrition and ingredients lists as their top priorities when choosing children’s ice cream.
With almost two in five take-home ice cream purchases now being made by families with children, Tate & Lyle says responding to these preferences by offering tasty, healthier ice cream for kids creates a value proposition that supports category growth for manufacturers and brands.
In addition to answering public health concerns, Tate & Lyle experts argue that providing more balanced treat options for children is an industry-wide responsibility and ultimately requires collaboration with ice cream formulators, brand owners, foodservice and retailers.
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