NATURAL INGREDIENTS


THINGS TO CONSIDER


natural


WHEN MAKING A MOVE TO


How can confectionery manufacturers best navigate a move to natural ingredients in their recipes? Suzanne Callander reports.


T


he ongoing transition towards natural and clean-label confectionery ingredients is largely being driven by


consumers. Recent data from Mintel and Fortune Business Insight, for example, shows that 58% of consumers state that transparency and clarity of ingredients directly influences their purchasing decisions. Further, Puratos’s Taste Tomorrow research shows that nine-in-ten consumers read packaging information before purchasing, and 46% specifically examine the ingredient list. For confectionery manufacturers, it is


therefore now critical to deliver indulgence in a simpler formulation that withstands scrutiny and demonstrates transparency. This can, however, create an interesting technical challenge for confectionery producers, because clean innovation must never come at the expense of quality or safety. In confectionery, specific ingredients and additives help control various factors – ranging from crystallization and emulsion stability, through to texture, appearance, flavour, and shelf life. Because these can all impact the manufacturing process and the final product, the first step in designing a ‘cleaner’ formulation needs to focus on


defining the desired product experience and commercial objective before considering any ingredient changes. Sara De Pelsmaeker, group health &


well-being director at Puratos, takes up the story. “Once the reformulation objective is clear, the next question should be how to deliver the same product functions using more natural alternatives or a streamlined ingredient list. This requires a systems-thinking approach, where the options are holistically evaluated for impact on performance parameters such as bite, snap, melt, creaminess, aeration, flavour release, appearance, stability,


18 • KENNEDY’S CONFECTION • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2026


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60