DSM highlights nutritious snacking and indulgent plant-based concepts delivering next-generation taste, texture and health at IFT FIRST

DSM Food & Beverage, IFT FIRST, July 10-13 2022, Chicago, IL, USA, Booth S0629

Heerlen (NL), 7am CDT, 20 June 2022

Royal DSM, a global purpose-led science-based company, 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 leading 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.¹ 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.² 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.

Total solutions for healthier snacking

Snacks have become an integral part of most consumers’ diets in recent years. A third of consumers say they snack to stay energized throughout the day, driven by increasingly busy, fast-paced lifestyles.³ At the same time, more consumers are turning to snacks for a nutrition boost, so snack options that deliver a health kick – including sugar-reduced options – are also booming in popularity.³ At DSM’s booth, visitors can explore examples of delicious snacks and drinks that align with consumers’ fast-changing health goals, created using DSM’s nutritional ingredients portfolio and premium flavor and texture solutions. For example, DSM’s Resilience Energy Bar prototype, developed using a custom premix blend for sports nutrition applications, and a Plant Power Energy Drink fortified with antioxidants, will be on display at the booth. 

Indulgence-inspired innovation

Many consumers are also increasingly turning to foods and beverages as a source of comfort and indulgence. In fact, 43% of global consumers state they have purchased more comfort foods for a moment of escapism.² With the help of more food and beverage solutions specifically formulated for indulgent applications, including a macaroni and cheese concept, DSM will demonstrate how producers can harness taste, texture and health solutions alongside formulation expertise to deliver truly indulgent sensory experiences.

DSM invites IFT FIRST attendees to visit their team at booth S0629. To find out more about the innovations and insights DSM will present at the event, or to book an appointment to speak to an expert at the show.