Bringing Color to Life

• A recent report by Mintel, commissioned by DSM, provides the latest insights to coloration trends in various food and beverage categories across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). 
  
• The findings demonstrate that there are differences in trends between Europe and the Middle East and Africa.
  
• DSM is a world leading producer of carotenoid colors to the food and beverage industry. Its portfolio contains a wide range of high performance natural-source and nature-based carotenoids. 
  

The Natural Choice

Consumer trends in the food and beverage industry are always evolving, but what is prominent right now? Health and wellness remains a top priority for many people, and an increasing number of shoppers are opting for more natural ingredients. Coloration is no exception. As natural coloration moves into the mainstream, detailed insights will play a vital role in creating products with real shelf appeal. 

Understanding Regional Preferences 

DSM recently commissioned research into coloration trends across the EMEA region. When adding color to their products, manufacturers in Europe mostly opted for natural coloration options. In the Middle East and Africa, on the other hand, the data shows that there are still many products that contain artificial colorants. However, with the natural trend expected to become increasingly important for consumers living in this region, there is an opportunity for food and beverage producers to act now and develop more natural products that will stand the test of time. 
It is also important to consider how consumer preferences vary across different applications, by looking at the most popular hues for each category. For example, in the dairy category in Europe, Mintel research shows that the most popular natural colors are yellows and oranges (70%). Meanwhile, brown and black are the most popular colors in the beverage category globally, largely due to the influence of caramel colored and flavored cola-type drinks. 

The Carotenoids Family

Carotenoids – including beta-carotene, apocarotenal, lycopene, and lutein – occur naturally in many fruits and vegetables. Using state-of-the-art formulation expertise, these pigments can be used to provide yellow, orange and orange-red color shades and meet the latest consumer demands across different categories.