Ingredion Inc., Westchester, Ill., launched a new foodservice growth guide titled “Put profitability on the menu,” which details how foodservice operators can drive sustained clean-label growth in the foodservice sector. With more consumers linking simple ingredient lists, recognizable ingredients and minimal processing with the clean-label experience, foodservice outlets have an opportunity to accelerate business growth and returns, the company says. “Put profitability on the menu” explores the key trends underpinning clean-label growth, how to capture the business value of clean-label, and how to extend menu options with ingredient innovation, it adds. “The global foodservice is currently forecast to reach $3.2 trillion by 2023, based on a CAGR of 2%,” said Daniel Haley, global platform lead for Clean & Simple Ingredients at Ingredion, in a statement. ”Evidence shows that the foodservice industry is largely adopting clean labels as a business strategy and that commitment toward these changes is long term, which is wonderful. It’s with this robust and comprehensive growth guide that we aim to deliver key insights for foodservice operators at this pivotal time.”

Founded in 2002, Sweetener Solutions, Pooler, Ga., announced the milestone of being in business for 20 years. A leading specialty formulating, blending and custom portion packaging company that emphasizes sugar replacement blends and other dry ingredients, the company has experienced steady growth throughout its history through an ever-expanding customer base of leading brands in food and beverage markets, it says. Today, Sweetener Solutions ships products to more than 50 countries, and has recently expanded to a second facility with enhanced production and warehousing capabilities. In a statement, Mike Lasky, CEO and president at Sweetener Solutions, said: “Twenty years is a great accomplishment and we owe it to all of our hard-working and dedicated employees and the loyalty of our customers. We are proud to be a growing employer in the Pooler and greater Savannah, Georgia area, and look forward to many more years as a leader in the industry.”

Stockholm, Sweden-based Lantmännen Biorefineries announced the launch of its gluten-free wheat starch, which is grown in western Sweden. The diagnosis of celiac disease (gluten intolerance) is increasing in society and currently affects 1-2% of the population. For those affected, keeping gluten out of their diet is of utmost importance. There also is an increasing number of people who have adopted a gluten-free diet for lifestyle reasons, so the market for gluten-free products is growing, the company said in a statement. Lars Franzén, head of food ingredients at Lantmännen Biorefineries, added: “After several years of development, we can now offer the market a gluten-free ingredient with good baking properties that do not affect the taste of the final product. The product is a fine white powder with a neutral taste and excellent baking properties. It is gluten-free according to European directives and will be launched initially in the Nordics and in northern Europe, where demand is currently very high.”

Winter Garden, Fla.-based Capsoil FoodTech, by Prodalim, Ltd. entered the coffee market offering lipid-based functional inclusions for coffee pods. The company uses coffee pods as a unique delivery system to infuse coffee with multiple ingredients awarding added wellness benefits, it says. Capsoil’s proprietary technology takes any oil-based compound and converts it to a self-emulsifying powder. Unlike some conventional powders, this novel process results in a dry, free-flowing powder that dissolves easily in either hot or cold liquids. Oil and water do not mix by nature, but Capsoil cracked the code developing an advanced method for incorporating oil-based nutrients into coffee pods, the company says. This opens the door to coffee fortified with oil-soluble ingredients, such as medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), CBD, vitamins A, D, E and K, and others, it adds. “Coffee is a functional drink by definition. This is why it is the perfect vehicle for adding functional ingredients,” said Itay Shafat, scientific director for Capsoil FoodTech, in a statement. “Working for global companies that market healthy ingredients, I was fully aware of the need for coffee companies to enhance their offerings to consumers. Capsoil has a next-gen solution for many issues I faced in my previous positions. Most vitamins and antioxidants are not water-soluble, and unable to deliver the active compound from the pod to the cup.”