DSM invites food and beverage producers to discover the latest consumer-inspired healthier snacking formats and indulgent, plant-based taste experiences at IFT FIRST. Attendees will be able to explore unique food and beverage ingredients and solutions delivering on consumer expectations for taste, texture and health across a range of categories, including baking, beverages, fresh dairy, cheese and plant-based dairy and meat alternatives. DSM will also launch four new textured vegetable protein products to the North American market, made possible through the company’s recent acquisition of Vestkorn, a European provider of pea- and faba-based ingredients.
Powering the plant-based revolution
The demand for products featuring a vegan, vegetarian or plant-based positioning is undeniable. And to meet the increasingly sophisticated expectations of today’s consumers, alternative proteins must also deliver a satisfying eating experience. In fact, taste was voted the most important factor for shoppers purchasing protein products, ahead of both price and health. At the same time, fortified plant-based alternatives are proving key to attracting today’s health-conscious consumers – 56% of people following flexitarian diets in North America reported finding the concept of fortified plant-based meat appealing. This creates an opportunity for brands and manufacturers to deliver a new generation of plant-based products that offer a great taste and texture and meet consumers’ nutrient and protein requirements, while also supporting their broader health goals with gluten-free and low-sodium positionings.
At IFT, attendees will be invited to explore the latest consumer-inspired vegan and vegetarian plant-based food and beverage concepts. These will include an oat “milk” drink, a salmon-inspired “fish” cake and “beef & cheese” nachos powered by DSM’s portfolio of nutritionally robust, highly functional plant proteins such as CanolaPRO®. DSM’s plant protein portfolio also includes new pea and faba proteins which are the foundation of plant-based meat alternatives that are free from the major allergens. In addition, visitors can sample DSM’s plant-based protein bar which will be available in cranberry and chocolate varieties, and is designed to satisfy consumers’ expectations for taste, texture and health.
Visitors to the booth can also explore a diverse range of dairy and meat alternative flavor solutions and application concepts from First Choice Ingredients, which was acquired by DSM in 2021. First Choice Ingredients has built a leading position in the US taste market as an innovation partner with food producers, flavor houses and food service suppliers. The company specializes in clean label solutions that offer sensory and functional benefits, created by proprietary fermentation utilizing select cultures and enzymes. Experts from the First Choice Ingredients team will be welcoming visitors to DSM’s booth with on-trend flavors and will be showcasing its range of stand-out taste solutions.
