Innovators at the Expo
EXHIBITOR PROFILES
Innovators at the Expo
Hundreds of ingredient, equipment, and technology providers will showcase their products and services at the IFT FIRST food expo in Chicago’s McCormick Place this summer. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the companies that will be exhibiting on the show floor. For more information on the world’s largest business-to-business food expo, including a full list of exhibitors, visit iftevent.org.
Applied Food Sciences (AFS)
Contact: Jackson Zapp
Specializes in: Energy and Focus, Plant-Based Protein, Nutritional Actives, Functional Flavors
For over 20 years, Applied Food Sciences (AFS) has inspired brands in the natural products industry with innovative functional ingredients. Quality is transparent through organic farming, responsible sourcing, and full traceability. From rural farmers to the largest companies in the world, the AFS team cares about every stakeholder and collaborates to make better ingredients for food, beverages, and nutritional supplements.
Here’s an overview of the ingredient portfolio: Energy & Focus—AmaTea Max organic guayusa extract, caffeine with antioxidants for work, sports, and gaming; Plant-Based Protein—PurHP-75 organic hemp seed, 75% protein complete with all nine essential amino acids for alternative meats, nondairy innovations, and baked goods; Nutritional Actives—PurC organic vitamin C, organic vitamin C sourced from acerola cherries and standardized to 25% vitamin C; and Functional Flavors—PurGinger organic ginger extract, a highly soluble powder for bold, spicy ginger flavor.
colorMaker
Contact: Stephen J. Lauro, [email protected], 714-572-0444
Specializes in: Natural Colors
ColorMaker develops and manufactures custom natural color blends compatible with its clients’ product, process, and packaging requirements, adding visual appeal to food, beverage, and nutritional products. Founded in 1996, colorMaker combines art and science to produce custom natural color blends that help clients wow their customers.
ColorMaker works only with color additives exempt from certification under 21 CFR 73. Natural colorants include annatto, beet juice, beta-carotene, caramel, carmine, chlorophyll, iron oxide, grape juice, hibiscus, lycopene, paprika, purple carrot, red cabbage, red radish, saffron, spirulina, sweet potato, and turmeric. Contact colorMaker for vibrant natural colors.
Custom Flavors
Contact: [email protected]
Specializes in: Organic and Natural Flavors and Flavoring Extracts: Liquid and Powder
Custom Flavors is not only the company’s name, but also a description of exactly what it does, which is develop and manufacture flavors that are customized to specific product requirements. Custom Flavors provides flavors to meet the processing parameters and labeling claims for a wide range of products, including vitamin-fortified gummies, protein powders, and enhanced beverages.
Functioning both as flavor creators and product formulators allows the Custom Flavors team to align flavor formulation with the finished product, saving product development time and accelerating speed to market. The company’s recently opened Innovation Center allows for custom flavor development and new product creation. By working side by side with the Custom Flavors team, product developers can trim their product development timelines to a matter of days.
Enzyme Development Corp.
EnzymeDevelopment.com,
www.Papain.com,
www.ThistleRennet.com
Contact: Christina Barsa, [email protected]
Specializes in: Enzymes
Enzyme Development recently reintroduced ficin, a sulfhydryl protease from fig tree latex. Sustainable agricultural practices have guaranteed an ongoing and consistent supply of fig tree latex. Along with papain, this protease is a suitable replacement for bromelain in food applications, which is significant because there is currently a global shortage of bromelain, a protease from pineapple. In food applications where bromelain is used as a processing aid, it is easy to swap out the enzyme for papain or ficin without making any label changes.
In addition to these products, Enzyme Development offers a wide range of proteases and other enzymes that can be used to produce plant-based products and innovative proteins and reduce waste by utilizing food production byproducts that are typically discarded. FIRST attendees are invited to stop by the Enzyme Development booth to see how enzymes can create new business opportunities.
Enzyme Innovation
Contact: Michael Chimitt, 909-203-4620
Specializes in: Enzymes, Probiotics
Industrial and artisanal bakeries currently face challenges that require flexible production and continuous innovation, which increases costs and reduces profits. These challenges include rising raw material costs; greater variances in quality; stiffer competition; an exponential rise in the number of consumers seeking healthy, clean label food products; stricter food safety regulations; and a higher scrap and return percentage.
Enzyme Innovation offers affordable baking solutions to allow bakeries to be nimble and give consumers the products they seek. SEB LBSC is a shelf- and temperature-stable spore-forming probiotic that addresses clean label, healthy product demands. SEBake Fresh Ultra is a powerful maltogenic amylase with benefits that include reducing the amount of baked goods returned from the shelf. All of this can result in greater profitability and ease for bakeries.
Enzyme Innovation products are backed by expert technical service, elite quality certifications, and more than 60 years of manufacturing experience.
Hilmar Ingredients
Contact: [email protected], 209-667-6076
Specializes in: Cheese, Confectionery Ingredients, Dairy
Ingredients and Products, Egg Replacers, Nutritive Sweeteners (Lactose), Whey and Whey Products
Hilmar Ingredients partners with customers to unlock the power of protein. The Hilmar team works as an extension of its customers’ research, product development, marketing, and procurement teams and strives to anticipate changing market requirements.
When eggs are not desirable due to cost, availability, or allergen issues, whey protein can be used to partially or completely replace egg protein. Hilmar 7000 Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) demonstrates how whey protein concentrate can fully substitute egg protein functionality in baked goods applications. Hilmar’s pound cake maintains desirable texture and flavor and is lower in cholesterol than a formula with all egg protein. Hilmar 7000 WPC aids in emulsifying fat and improving texture by maintaining moisture content and volume. It is rich in phospholipids similar to those found in eggs. Hilmar experts will be on hand at Booth S1270 at FIRST to discuss how whey proteins provide the essential amino acids in an optimum blend for human consumption.
IFANCA
Contact: Ali Othman, [email protected]
Specializes in: Halal, Halal Certification Services, Training, Education, Food Safety, Quality Control
IFANCA is a global leader in halal certification. There are 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide, so getting certified by a trusted organization is crucial to succeeding in the global market. IFANCA’s proprietary technology streamlines the certification process to help get products to market faster.
A team of religious scholars and technical experts is available to offer assistance through all steps of the certification process. Services include training client teams in certification standards, assisting R&D teams with guidance to develop new halal products, and solving problems using a network of affiliates and experts. IFANCA also promotes its clients’ halal-certified products to consumers and makes it easy for everyone to find and use halal-certified products. With a firm belief that halal is for all, IFANCA’s goal is for halal certification to be as ubiquitous as other third-party certifications.
Martech Research
Contact: Benny Maresca, [email protected], 803-428-2000
Specializes in: Spray-Drying, Oil Emulsification, Fermentation Enzyme Digestion
With 40 years of experience in food formulas, enzyme and fermentation digestion, processing, and spray-drying, Martech Research prides itself on creative product development solutions and speedy results that can help move new projects forward quickly. The staff of Martech believes in developing long-lasting relationships with its customers, which many times turns Martech into a research arm for customers. The staff can develop products in small quantities, and then scale them up for full production. Martech is GFSI certified through BRC with an AA rating.
Martech offers expertise in spray-drying CBD, CBG, CBN, saw palmetto oil, and fish oil; protein digestion and spray-drying; pre- and post-blending capabilities for liquids and powders; and oil emulsification and spray-drying.
MGP Ingredients
mgpingredients.com/food-ingredients
Contact: mgpingredients.com/about-mgp/contact-us/contact-us.html
Specializes in: Wheat Proteins, Wheat Starches, Textured Wheat Proteins, Textured Pea Proteins
MGP Ingredients, the leading U.S. supplier of specialty wheat proteins and starches, combines innovation with in-depth experience and expertise to deliver highly functional and nutritional ingredients aligned with consumer trends. The ProTerra line of textured proteins includes wheat and pea options that enhance protein content while offering sensory and functional benefits. Their unique fibrous structure replicates the look and texture of meat for meat, poultry, and seafood extensions, and makes them ideal for flexitarian, vegan, and vegetarian products.
The MGP portfolio includes Arise wheat protein isolates, which are Low FODMAP certified; Fibersym RW resistant wheat starch, which is Low FODMAP certified; Midsol 50 cook-up wheat starch; and Pregel instant wheat starches. The company’s wheat starches and most of its wheat proteins are Non-GMO Project Verified. MGP also offers clean label ingredients and a gluten-free fiber option. FIRST attendees are invited to visit MGP team members at Booth S3441.
MicroDried
Contact: Heidi Clark (Farkas), [email protected], 509-781-4112
Specializes in: Dried Fruits and Vegetables
MicroDried provides high-quality dried fruits and vegetables―naturally. The company’s revolutionary MicroDried process preserves the natural integrity of fruits and vegetables, keeping the superior taste, color, and texture intact and making it possible to offer them as ready-to-eat. MicroDried’s proprietary, patented drying technology includes a low-impact radiant energy vacuum for dehydration, which maintains the most natural vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients, making possible a single ingredient label with no sugar, color, or preservatives added.
MicroDried products include non-GMO, gluten-free, and allergen-free options and are available in whole pieces, chewy, and crunchy fragments, and coarse or fine-grind powders. Dried fruits include apple, aronia, banana, black currant, blackberry, blueberry, cherry, cranberry, elderberry, lemon, lime, mango, orange, peach, pineapple, pomegranate, raspberry, and strawberry. Dried vegetables include beet, bell pepper, broccoli, brussels sprout, carrot, cauliflower, corn, green bean, kale, okra, pea, potato, rhubarb, spinach, squash, sweet potato, tomato, and zucchini. Visit MicroDried in Booth S4218.
Richardson Food & Ingredients
richardsonfoodandingredients.com
Contact: [email protected]
Specializes in: Oils, Margarines, Shortenings, Whole Grain Oat Groats, Whole Grain Oat Flakes, Oat Flour and Bran, Toasted Coated Grains and Granola Clusters, Organic Oat Products
This spring, Richardson Food & Ingredients proudly unveiled the new look for its flagship brand, Wesson. The new packaging design is clean and contemporary while giving a nod to the Wesson Oil bottle designs of previous decades. Richardson’s oat milling sales team has been equally busy this year, adding packaging capabilities to the current product lineup. The new retail and club store stand-up pouches and display trays, combined with the company’s central U.S. location and extensive oat supply offerings, provides an efficient and seamless supply chain for oat-based granolas. Finally, the oilseed team has perfected Richardson’s ready-to-whip sweetened icing, Cremin, updating its formulation to be 100% vegan. Cremin Vegan is stable and versatile and contains no artificial colors or flavors. This icing is simple to prepare, saving time in all commercial baking applications. Stay updated on Richardson Food & Ingredients news by visiting richardsonfoodandingredients.com.
Sethness Roquette Caramel Color
Contact: Brian Sethness, [email protected], 847-329-2080
Specializes in: Caramel Colors
Sethness Roquette is the worldwide leader in the production of liquid and powder caramel colors for the food and beverage industry. The company’s caramel colors are available in a range of strengths and hues from light yellows to rich ambers and light tans to dark browns. Flexible, stable, and economical coloring solutions are available to food processors worldwide, and the company remains on the cutting edge of the food industry by delivering liquid and powder caramel colors that satisfy consumer demands such as simple, easy-to-understand clean labeling and safe “free-from” ingredients.
In addition to the color spectrum of the Sethness Roquette Class I to Class IV caramel colors, the company offers many clean label options: gluten-free, allergen-free, GRAS, vegan, certified organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, minimally processed, kosher, and halal. Applications include bakery, beers and spirits, beverages, flavors and ingredients, meat and meat substitutes, nutraceuticals, pet foods, prepared foods, and sauces and seasonings. Sethness Roquette will be in Booth S4046 at the expo.
Tastepoint by IFF
Contact: 800-523-0767
Specializes in: Flavors
Tastepoint by IFF is a leading innovator of taste, driven by a commitment to providing customers and consumers with exciting and memorable flavor experiences. The perfect blend of “heart and science,” Tastepoint integrates state-of-the-art technology, world-class production facilities, and passionate food scientists to deliver products that ignite the palate and the imagination.
Enhanced by the extensive resources of its greater IFF family, Tastepoint prides itself on agile and energetic product development. Tastepoint’s purpose is to be the spark that advances its customers. Together, the Tastepoint team and its clients create a fresh take on taste, and the Tastepoint team is always ready to meet its customers at the table. To learn more about the Tastepoint difference, visit tastepoint.com.
Van Drunen Farms
Contact: [email protected]
Specializes in: Services/Processing Methods (Freeze-Drying, Drum-Drying, Individually Quick Freezing [IQF], and Custom Solutions), All-Natural Plant-Based Ingredients (Fruit, Vegetable, Herb, and Grain Ingredients—Conventional and Organic)
The Van Drunen Farms family of brands offers a wide variety of ingredients derived from fruits, vegetables, herbs, and grains for application in the traditional food and beverage, functional food and beverage, and foodservice industries. Extensive global manufacturing operations and over 150 years of farming experience help to ensure high-quality customer service. The Van Drunen Farms and FutureCeuticals teams strive to be a go-to source for inspiration, innovation, and nutritious solutions that help bring products to life.
At the food expo, the company will feature new branded products designed to meet the needs of today’s marketplace, such as Udderly Oats plant-based organic oat milk powder. Udderly Oats is made from organic, gluten-free oats that deliver a pleasant, slightly sweet oat flavor and smooth texture experience. This shelf-stable, heat-stable, and solution-dispersible ingredient is ideal for applications such as nondairy milks and creamers, protein powders, bars, and yogurts.
Wintersun
Contact: [email protected]
Specializes in: Food, Nutrition, and Pharmaceuticals
Since 2001, Wintersun Chemical has been recognized as a premier chemical supplier in the United States. Headquartered in Ontario in Southern California, with more than 70,000 square feet of office and warehouse space, Wintersun is dedicated to exceeding customer expectations.
A proud member of the National Association of Chemical Distributors, Wintersun is listed in the California Unified Certification Program database of certified DBEs under the chemical distributor category. The company is committed to being a reliable, customer-focused source of chemicals at competitive prices. Success through strong relationships with clients and high-quality manufacturers is a guiding principle. To see how Wintersun can help with unique chemical needs, contact Wintersun customer service for quotes and information at 800-930-1688 or [email protected].