Tackle 4 Big Baking Challenges with NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber
The baking industry is at a crossroads. It is facing multiple challenges today related to inflation, supply and changing consumer demands. Consumers and manufacturers are looking for ways to cut costs – without compromising on quality.
Thankfully, there is a solution that can make reformulating a piece of cake. Sustainably sourced and upcycled from citrus peels, a byproduct of the juice industry, NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber is a unique ingredient that was developed to help across a range of applications. In baked goods, NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber supports stabilization, water holding, texture/mouthfeel, structure and moisture control.
As an example, we created a brioche recipe made with NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber and used 50% less butter and eggs than standard recipes. Here are some of our observations from the process:
The brioche made with NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber…
- was less sticky for better machinability.
- was consistent in texture and retained better shape.
- allowed for lower cost and de-risked the supply chain by using less butter and egg.
- had more volume.
- had a moister crumb structure.
Inspired by our results, here are 4 ways we can help you tackle your toughest challenges with NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber:
1. Save some dough: Combat rising prices as well as supply volatility.
From starch and xanthan gum to butter and eggs, supply chain instability is putting pressure on manufacturers. Then, as one issue eases, inflation steps in. The volatility is likely here to stay for a while. However, quality is one area that should not be sacrificed.
Look at ingredient cost savings to ensure your finished products still meet consumer expectations. For example, NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber can help product developers extend or eliminate fats, eggs, starch, gums and emulsifiers in bakery recipes. In addition, there is a reliable, stable ingredient supply available to meet sourcing needs.
2. Reduce food waste.
Manufacturers know well the balancing act between the convenience and availability of fresh baked goods with stale products, looming expiration dates and the waste bin, both at the retail level and for consumers at home. NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber can help extend shelf life by retaining moisture and structure longer, to meet your market needs and help reduce food waste. (P.S. Click here to see how CP Kelco upcycles food waste – citrus peels from the juice industry – into a NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber.)
3. Reformulate to meet clean label claims.
Innova Market Insights* recently asked consumers which claims most influence their bakery purchase. “Real ingredients/natural” was a top response, whether consumers were considering bread, cakes and pastries, or biscuits and cookies. Consumers are drawn to products that taste “homemade,” which is one of the reasons why “nostalgia” has been named a key trend by Baking & Snack and British Baker.
In addition, some countries, including England, have introduced restrictions on products high in fat, sugar and salt leading to more launches with reduced-fat and reduced-calorie claims. Upcycled NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber can help product developers reduce or remove xanthan gum and mono diglycerides without impacting preservation or softness for a simpler ingredient list. It also supports reduced-fat and reduced-sugar formulations without sacrificing texture and quality.
4. Keep up with plant-based preferences.
Vegan bakery is going mainstream. According to Innova Market Insights, plant-based claims are up 61% (global, CAGR 2020-2022) in new bakery launches of cakes, pastries and sweet baked goods. Across all subcategories, consumers are asking for more vegan and allergen-free options without dairy and eggs.
This rapidly growing interest provides a new opportunity for brands to enlarge their consumer base and even reduce energy with no need for cold storage. NUTRAVA® Citrus Fiber can help make reformulation easier with minimal changes to the manufacturing process and great cost in use.
Fastest growing subcategories in bakery launches with a plant-based claim (Global, 3 years CAGR*)
*Innova Category Survey 2023 (average of 35 countries), Innova Database.