Menu
This year, healthy ingredients took the spotlight at Food Ingredients Asia (Fi Asia). Here’s a look at the key trends we saw and how our healthy ingredient solutions support these trends.
Our team was excited to be a part of Fi Asia and hope you got a chance to attend and visit our booth. The healthy ingredients and product concepts we showcased were well-aligned with Asian consumers’ high demand for food and beverage options that provide added nutrition, functional health benefits, and great taste—underscoring these significant trends we saw at the show.
Healthy, nutritious ingredients were prominent at Fi Asia, with protein ingredients driving significant product innovation in foods and beverages. While sports and active nutrition accounted for much of this, high-protein expansion into mainstream applications was clear.
At the USA pavilion, we saw protein-fortified concepts, including protein-enhanced granola, crackers, hot chocolate mixes, oat beverage mixes, ready-to-drink milk drinks, and soups. Innova reports that 44% of Asian consumers always look at ingredients of interest on the packaging, and for 46%, protein is the most important.1
Learn about Glanbia Nutritionals’ high protein beverage and snacks concepts featured at the show.
Nearly 39% of consumers in Asia claim to be proactive in preventing health issues, with recent purchases that include foods and beverages with functional benefits for improving sleep, immunity, hydration and gut/digestive health.2 In response to this growing interest, there were a variety of functional preventive health ingredients at the show.
Our team showcased an exciting multi-benefit concept: a high protein immunity bar in a pick-me-up, indulgent format that provides protein and IgG, which supports immune health and cognition. For beverages, we featured a passion fruit-flavored, high protein electrolyte water to support hydration and nutrient needs.
While many consumers will sacrifice indulgence for healthier food, there is a growing movement toward “indulgent health,” as more consumers seek better-for-you versions of their favorite treats and snacks that still offer an indulgent experience. In Asia, snack launches with functional health claims have grown at a 20% CAGR (2019-2023), and nearly one in five consumers always look for healthier alternatives of snacks.3
Many brands, already aware of this opportunity, were promoting better-for-you and nutrition-enhanced concepts at Fi Asia, such as a low-sugar, creamy yogurt and a fruit-flavored calcium gummy supplement. We showcased three protein-enhanced snacks at the event, including a strawberry chocolate bar, sour cream chips, and a granola mix that featured functional protein ingredients BarPro® and Crunchie™ whey protein crisps, giving a superior nutritional boost and enjoyable taste.
Ingredients that support plant-based product development were also well-represented at the show. Health, along with variety and environment, are the leading reasons consumers in Asia consider plant-based alternative foods and beverages, with almost three in four preferring familiar flavors in these types of products.4
Although it’s not the top purchase driver for plant-based products, the importance to consumers of environmental impact when making food and beverage purchases is something to watch closely. 72% of consumers in Asia agree that they pay attention to environmental protection-related claims in food and beverage packing.5
Exciting emerging trends include functional ingredients with mood benefits to meet consumers’ growing interest in support products for mental health, emotional well-being, stress relief, and sleep. Food and beverage launches in Asia Pacific with mood-related claims have grown at a 12% CAGR (2019-2023), with younger consumers (18-34) the most likely to use these products.6
Glanbia Nutritionals’ PepForm Tryptophan is a key ingredient in the Relaxation+ powdered beverage concept, which is positioned as a relaxation, mood, and sleep aid product. In addition, this beverage mix contains CuroWhite, a bioavailable form of curcumin, which has been associated with healthy inflammatory response and immune function.
Healthy aging is important to 68% of Asian consumers, and even younger adult consumers (Gen Z and Millennials) who express an interest in healthy aging expect products that address this need to continue gaining traction.7 The top categories using healthy aging-related claims in recent (2019-2023) Asia Pacific launches are dairy (21%), snacks (14%), and cereals (12%).8
At Fi Asia, our MusclePlus protein drink enhanced with PepForm leucine was a concept targeting middle-aged and elderly consumers experiencing muscle loss. This drink provides sufficient support for muscle growth, and the nutrition necessary to achieve healthy aging.
As a global leader in ingredients, Glanbia Nutritionals is here to support your company with valuable consumer insights, product trend analyses, and high quality nutritional and functional ingredients that are relevant to today’s market.
To learn how our proteins, bioactives, and custom premix solutions can elevate your next healthy food or beverage product, contact us.