Around the world, consumers want food and beverages with alternative proteins – and their desire keeps growing. Therefore, they are turning increasingly often to alternatives to meat and dairy products – both out of conviction and for health reasons. Symrise understands the taste preferences of meat lovers, flexitarians, vegetarians and vegans. The versatile taste solutions for products based on alternative proteins are based on this understanding, using the best of both nature and science.
Many consumers want to eat healthier and more sustainably. The consumption of alternative proteins has left its niche, and now numerous consumer groups around the world are turning to these “green variants”. It’s often also curiosity that drives people to try a vegan burger or plant-based sausage. After trying these products for the first time, the taste experience is decisive to determine whether this initial tasting will repeat itself.
This is evident in a Mintel research, where 68% of the respondents indicated their interest to try a product again because of the taste. Coming in a close second at 41% were consumers purchase decision is driven by the wish fore more natural ingredients, while, for a further 35%, the deciding factor is the protein content. Therefore, sustainably enriching the menu and expanding it in the long run with tasty options requires new taste experiences. From aromatic vegetables to inspirations from ethnic cuisines – creativity and fantasy create appetite for more. This way, plant-based products get their own authenticity, which craftfully accentuates the good taste of plants.
Using their expertise, Symrise has developed taste solutions for culinary well-rounded and protein-rich products. The mission is to get consumers to discover and develop their love of plant-based foods. The integrated Symrise solutions also manage to balance out off-notes, make plant-based product taste juicer and give them a preferred taste.
To do so, Symrise uses natural raw materials from sustainable sources and relies on pure, natural ingredients from its Code of Nature portfolio. This is supported by the in-depth sensory understanding and technological know-how of Symrise.
Christopher Sabater, director technology research, Symrise, explained: “Our innovative technologies are the source of gentle preparation processes that refine and release the authentic taste of nature. That’s what makes the taste offering of Symrise so special for customers and consumers.”
Eva Scholten, marketing manager, culinary, Symrise, added: “Our global approach covers the entire taste range for alternative protein. This includes meat alternatives as well as plant-based products with their own authentic taste profile, dairy alternative and drinks with nutritional added value.”
Consumer focus on plant-based delights
Consumers have many different demands when it comes to plant-based proteins. “Newbies” among vegan and vegetarians look for plant-based alternatives that taste like ground beef, gyros or chicken nuggets.
Flexitarians like both plant and animal protein, and look to enrich their menu with tasty elements. They buy both meat and plant-based products from ethical production whenever possible. In either case, the taste of both options is important to them, as is the variety in the culinary experience. For this, Symrise offers taste solutions for products with alternative protein across the whole spectrum, from a smoky meat note to the fresh taste of mint and spinach all the way to Thai styles.
Scholten elaborated: “We combine our knowledge of alternative protein sources with our taste expertise, our understanding of recipes and comprehensive consumer data. From this combination, we develop and produce taste solutions for plant-based foods and beverages that consumer love. Furthermore, we help our customers to fulfil the consumer demand for well-being, naturalness and sustainability.”
Studies in different countries confirm that this is a trend here to stay. For instance, 29% of Germans extend their food plan to include “green alternatives” and eat less meat because they want to protect the climate. And 41% of consumers in the UK want to eat less meat to benefit their well-being. Symrise provides its customers, with this insight and analyse consumer preference for a new “Proudly Green” product category in detail. This way, Symrise supports food manufacturers with both knowledge of consumer preferences as well as the right taste for their products.
