Maintaining Mouthfeel and delivering great taste when reformulating with healthier ingredients.
Using sweetening solutions derived from nature for cleaner, more transparent on shelf- labelling.
Packing products with a stronger nutritional profile through fortified ingredients such as soluble fibres.
Good for the body. Great for the tastebuds.
Whether they're shopping, dining or snacking on the go, the trend is clear: consumers are shifting away from nutrient-poor options and reaching for naturally-derived and nutrient-rich choices. For these consumers, it’s not about a temporary diet, it’s about everyday dietary needs. They’re choosing ‘Better-for-you’ options that make them feel their best, every single day.
70% of consumers want to be healthier and see food as essential to achieving that goal.¹
However, many find healthier options bland or uninspiring. Wellbeing shouldn't come at the expense of enjoyment.
Manufacturers are breaking away from the predictable, proving that nutrient dense “better-for-you” products can deliver both healthier options and strong consumer appeal, from chocolate-covered fruit, fibre-rich, creamy yoghurts or crispy, protein-packed snacks.
Common challenges:
Incorporating more nutritious ingredients without compromising sensory experience or shelf life. | Enhancing the texture of vegetables to bring natural ingredients to centre stage. |
Functional, fortified and filled with purpose.
Eating is getting smarter. Today’s informed consumers are swapping guesswork for nutrition that works as hard as they do. They’re seeking measurable, purposeful, and functional benefits, from cognitive clarity to digestive wellness to balanced metabolism. All delivered through foods and beverages tailored to their unique goals.
~ US$ 850 billion: Global Forecast of Functional Food & Beverage Market Value by 2032²
Many functionally-boosted products still feel niche, unadventurous, and lacking in variety. Manufacturers are discovering rising demand for next-generation functional foods and beverages that deliver both purposeful benefits and sensory excitement. The formula for success is clear: create products that perform and deliver precision nutrition, while also delighting consumers.
Common challenges:
Formulating nutrient-rich products that still deliver on mouthfeel and taste appeal. | Designing next generation functional products that remain accessible and budget-friendly. | Achieving rich, satisfying mouthfeel while reformulating with lower sugar and better-for-you ingredients. |
Clean labels. Clean living.
Today’s consumers aren’t just looking for healthier options; they want foods and beverages made with ingredients they recognise. Transparent, clean labels are increasingly influencing what makes it into the basket.
88% of consumers check ingredient labels before they buy3
T&L Proprietary Ingredient Tracker. 2025
46% of consumers prioritise ‘cleaner label’ ingredients when choosing packaged food and drink.3
T&L Proprietary Ingredient Tracker. 2025
Responding to demand, manufacturers are finding opportunities to simplify product labels with innovative ingredients, like Reb M™, while maintaining the shelf-life and stability consumers expect. They’re turning transparency into their greatest asset.
Common challenges:
Reformulating for clean label while maintaining textural integrity and sensory performance. | Switching to cleaner label preservation and thickening solutions that still protect quality and shelf life. | Achieving sugar reduction targets while ensuring flavour, stability and processing compatibility. |
1https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods/our-insights/hungry-and-confused-the-winding-road-to-conscious-eating
2https://finance.yahoo.com/news/functional-food-beverage-market-reach-151500397.html
3Tate & Lyle Proprietary Ingredient Tracker Research 2025 (Includes 7 Markets – US, Brazil, Germany, UK, UAE, China, and India; 1,000 respondents per market)
Prospective purchasers are advised to conduct their own tests, studies and review of the intellectual property and regulatory space to determine the fitness of Tate & Lyle products for their particular purposes, product claims or specific applications