Showcasing Innovation at the Expo
EXHIBITOR PROFILES
Showcasing Innovation at the Expo
The IFT FIRST Food Expo at McCormick Place in Chicago this summer will be home to hundreds of ingredient, equipment, and technology providers. Here’s an advance look at some of the companies that will be highlighting their products and services. Visit https://first.iftevent.org/IFT23-Expo for more information on the Food Expo experience, including a list of exhibitors.
Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America
Contact: Tony Hundt, [email protected]
Specializes in: Health and Nutrition, Foods, Bio-Pharma Services, Medical Nutrition
Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America (AHN) has been harnessing the power of science to improve the well-being of people all over the world for more than 100 years. Dedicated to helping people “Eat Well, Live Well,” the AHN team believes science creates better lives for all. AHN experts utilize the potential of science to develop innovative food solutions with a variety of benefits, including enhanced nutrition, improved taste and texture, and ingredient optimization.
AHN understands the increasing demand for nutritious food without compromising on taste. Learn how the AHN team can collaborate to bring new innovations to its clients’ solutions and ingredients. Visit us at IFT FIRST, booth S1135 to discover what nutrition without compromise can mean.
Bartek
Contact: [email protected]
Specializes in: Malic and Fumaric Acid for the Bakery, Confectionery, Dairy, Beverage, and Prepared Foods Segments
For more than 50 years, Bartek has been a leading global manufacturer of malic acid, fumaric acid, and maleic anhydride. The company has explored the many possibilities offered by its core ingredients to develop a growing specialty portfolio of ingredient technologies. Most recently, Bartek unveiled Uplift Taste Modification Technology, a solution for taste enhancement in vitamin, mineral, and supplement and confectionery gummies, jellies, and beverages that:
- Effectively enhances and modulates taste and controls unique flavor and sour onset, peak, and linger
- Creates authentic fruit flavor and sour profiles that are distinct and cannot be achieved with sodium citrate alone
- Enhances juicy, tart notes and extends them throughout chew time
As the largest producer of malic and food-grade fumaric acid, Bartek is committed to continually assessing the challenges faced by food, beverage, and supplement manufacturers and leveraging its expertise in acidulants and buffers to offer solutions.
BENEO
Contact: [email protected], 1.973.867.2140
Specializes in: Functional Fibers, Functional Carbohydrates, Specialty Rice Ingredients, Functional Proteins
At this year’s IFT FIRST, BENEO will showcase a significant extension to its fiber portfolio, offering a range of health benefits along with functional ingredients that help improve the nutritional and technical properties of products.
Among the few proven prebiotics, BENEO’s chicory root fibers (inulin and oligofructose) are preferred nutrients for beneficial bacteria in the gut, which have been scientifically shown to promote health. Incorporating these soluble fibers into formulations also allows for reduction of sugar or fat content across a range of applications.
When it comes to creating plant-based alternatives or enriching food and drink products with vegetal protein, BENEO’s faba bean and rice protein offer an appealing solution. When combined, they allow formulators to obtain a complete essential amino acid profile. Using faba bean protein concentrate enables manufacturers to replace eggs in a vegan-friendly muffin recipe, offering additional cost reduction benefits. Visit BENEO at booth 2210.
Blue California
Contact: Debbi Abalos, [email protected], 949.635.1991
Specializes in: Antimicrobial Agents; Antioxidants; Botanicals; Colors; Flavors: Natural, Sweet, Fruit, Citrus; Essential Oils; Aromatic Chemicals; Non-GMO Ingredients; Nutraceuticals; Health-Promoting Ingredients; Preservatives; Vitamins
Blue California is a manufacturer of sustainable, nature-based ingredients used in foods, beverages, and dietary supplements.
FIRST attendees can stop by booth S1670 to learn about Blue California’s portfolio of ingredients that support healthy aging. One featured ingredient is the longevity vitamin ergothioneine, a potent antioxidant that targets multiple health areas and is compatible with food, beverage, and nutritional supplement applications. Brands that seek to replace titanium dioxide will find many benefits to Blue California’s patent-pending whitening agents that have excellent whitening effects with sensory benefits, including a creamy mouthfeel.
Blue California’s Sensegen division will unveil its moods and foods exotic flavors collection, featuring six unique flavors ranging from yuzu to dragon fruit to violet in ready-to-taste prototypes. The collection is inspired by and in connection with Sensegen’s exploration of consumers’ emotional states—their mood dial—and the connection with foods and beverages.
Colony Gums
Contact: [email protected]
Specializes in: Hydrocolloids, Stabilizers
Exciting things are happening at Colony Gums in 2023, the company reports. Building on 80-plus years of experience in hydrocolloids and record business success in 2021 and 2022, the company has increased its production capacity to ensure growth capability (as the supply chain challenges lessen).
As Colony Gums continues its focus on customer partnerships, it has also expanded its staff in sales and R&D. Stop by booth S2006 to meet the company’s recent additions to the team.
Colony Gums is proud to announce it has received Global Vegan Facility Certification from BeVeg International. This certification adds to the company’s TrueGum and Colony Organics product lines to help its customers meet customer ingredient expectations. Colony Gums is available to help customers use its versatile plant-based hydrocolloid ingredient tools to add texture, stability, and quality in food and industrial applications.
Custom Flavors
Customer Contact: Jasmin Masri, [email protected]
Specializes in: Natural and Organic Flavors
Discover a world of flavor innovation with Custom Flavors at IFT FIRST, booth S4025. Booth visitors will be able to experience a virtual tour of the company’s innovation building, where creativity, collaboration, and cutting-edge technology redefine the food and beverage landscape.
Custom Flavors’ advanced applications lab is a hub of unique flavors and concepts, quickly brought to life. The company’s assortment of Food Expo samples will range from fruity gummies to protein powders.
The Custom Flavors team prides itself on expertly delivering specialized flavor solutions for a variety of applications. Booth visitors can get to know the team behind the company’s flavor innovation or visit customflavors.com/innovation for more information about the company’s innovation in the functional, sugar reduction, and sports nutrition categories.
DSM
Contact: dsm.com/food-beverage/en_US/contact.html
Specializes in: Nutritional Ingredients, Premix Solutions, Coloration Solutions, Sugar Reduction, Confectionery Ingredients, Cultures, Specialty Dairy Ingredients, Enzymes, Hydrocolloids, Technical Antioxidants, Yeast Extracts
Discover DSM’s latest offerings at IFT FIRST, booth S0430, where the focus will be on delivering better-for-you options inspired by the latest consumer insights and research in areas such as energy and mental health and overall wellness. DSM’s innovative ingredients not only provide functional benefits but also ensure superior taste and texture. The company offers scientifically backed solutions with a special emphasis on plant-based alternatives that feature Vertis, a newly launched range of high-quality plant proteins.
DSM experts will be available at the booth to discuss formulation strategies and share insights on creating healthier products that meet the evolving needs of health-conscious consumers. Join DSM team members at IFT FIRST to experience the power of DSM’s innovative solutions that combine taste, texture, and functional benefits, catering to the growing demand for healthy and sustainable options in the food and beverage industry.
Enzyme Development Corporation
Contact: [email protected]
Specializes in: Enzymes
Enzyme Development Corporation (EDC) is celebrating 70 years of providing enzymes to the food, nutraceutical, and animal feed industry this year. Since 1953, EDC has provided a wide range of enzymes that are nearly all non-GMO, halal certified, and kosher certified. EDC provides specialty enzymes such as papain that is kosher for Passover certified and OMRI-certified for organic applications.
EDC is the only producer of papain, ficin, and thistle rennet in the Western Hemisphere, and its technical sales team has extensive experience in a wide range of food applications to assist in meeting its customers’ enzyme needs. IFT FIRST attendees are invited to stop by booth S2846 to talk about how enzymes can create new business opportunities.
Food Chemicals Codex
Contact: [email protected]
Specializes in: Monographs, Identity Standards, Reference Standards, Analytical Materials for Food Ingredients
There are few things as important to our everyday health as the food we eat. So, it’s not surprising that consumers are becoming more interested in knowing where their food comes from and that it’s made with safe, authentic, quality ingredients. In addition, regulators continue to focus on the health risks that stem from poor food integrity, and the food industry is seeking more and better ways to address the increasing complexity of the global supply chain.
That’s why the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) helps manufacturers ensure that the ingredients they produce, procure, and use are of sufficient purity and quality to be used in food products. FCC gives regulators, manufacturers, and retailers standards and tools to help ensure food safety and integrity.
Hilmar
Contact: Corrie Everson, [email protected]
Specializes in: Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Isolate, Hydrolyzed Whey Protein, Specialty Protein Fractions, Lactose
Hilmar PROtelyze Extend is the company’s newest solution for well-formulated high-protein bars. Hilmar PROtelyze Extend is a hydrolyzed whey protein isolate specifically designed to extend shelf life and maintain softness in nutrition bars, delivering consistency over time without sacrificing flavor.
In addition to bar softening, Hilmar PROtelyze Extend has a clean flavor profile to meet the needs of consumers. It is also lactose-free and easy to digest, targeting a wider share of the market. Hilmar’s whey protein products promote muscle synthesis and are optimal for sports and performance nutrition and healthy living nutrition applications. Visit booth S0456 at IFT FIRST to try a sample of Hilmar PROtelyze Extend in a bar application.
Ingredion
Contact: Janelle Litel, manager, content and communications, [email protected]
Specializes in: Snacks, Beverage, Plant-Based Dairy, Plant-Based Meat
Ingredion’s booth will feature innovations created by the culinology team that tap into trends, consumer insights, and Ingredion portfolio offerings. Ingredion will feature items that meet consumer preferences for sustainable, plant-based proteins, sugar reduction alternatives, and clean label solutions in globally inspired, fan favorite foods and beverages like glazed baked doughnuts; yogurt and blackberry paletas; and coconut, pandan kaya, and passion fruit cake.
Ingredion’s Ultra Performance plant-based protein line was the Best Plant-Based Sustainability product winner in the World Plant-Based Awards held in association with the 2022 Plant Based World Expo. The line allows for the creation of better-tasting plant-based foods and beverages without the raw plant flavor, bitter taste, or uncontrolled microbial levels common with dry milling pulse products.
Chickpea protein concentrate from InnovoPro is the latest addition to Ingredion’s plant-based protein portfolio. Ingredion is now an exclusive commercial distributor of InnovoPro CPPRO70 in the United States and Canada.
Jungbunzlauer
Contact: [email protected]
Specializes in: Citrics, Gluconates, Lactics, Mineral Salts, Sweeteners, Biogums, Citrate Esters
There’s no doubt about it, plant-based foods are on the rise. But how do you maintain the familiar textures and tastes people love? Jungbunzlauer offers expertise and support in this area.
Jungbunzlauer’s product line can help enhance taste and flavor with natural ingredients, boost nutritional profiles of plant-based foods, prolong shelf life, and optimize texture in a variety of items.
The company’s food scientists have been developing new recipes to help stabilize plant-based caviar, enhance texture in vegan cold cuts, and extend shelf life in meat alternatives. Join Jungbunzlauer at booth 1114 to learn more.
Kikkoman
Contact: kikkomanusa.com/foodmanufacturers/request-a-sample/
Specializes in: Traditionally Brewed Soy Sauce
Looking to put the flavor-enhancing umami of traditionally brewed soy sauce to work for you?
Kikkoman offers the industry’s most comprehensive and trusted line of liquid and dehydrated soy sauce forms, brewed in the United States for 50 years and made from North American ingredients to the highest standards of quality and consistency. One source. Endless options. Kikkoman.
Lallemand Health Solutions
Contact: [email protected]
Specializes in: Probiotics, Dietary/Food Supplements
Lallemand Health Solutions leverages functionality for the gut microbiome and many more health purposes by offering probiotic solutions for food and beverage applications such as microencapsulated lactobacilli and bifidobacterium strains and spore-forming bacteria. This brings added health solutions for gut, immune, mental, women’s, metabolic, skin, and oral health as well as the sports nutrition category.
Lallemand Health Solutions has developed a range of protective techno-logies to ensure optimal probiotic survival in food matrices and efficacy at their site of action. Probiocap technology protects probiotic strains from physical food processing conditions and chemical stress from digestion. Lallemand also offers Bacillus strains, which are spore-forming, naturally resistant probiotics. The viability and efficacy of Bacillus probiotics were successfully tested in several extreme conditions for many food/beverage applications. Lallemand’s strain resistance to pasteurization has been tested in nondairy milks, namely almond milk and soy milk. The strain was also shown to survive during the shelf life of several kombucha products.
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 MicroDried process preserves the natural integrity of fruits and vegetables, keeping the desired taste, color, and texture, and allowing the company to offer them as ready-to-eat so product developers can be “ready to create.” MicroDried offers a single ingredient label with no sugar, color, or preservatives added.
The proprietary, patented MicroDried drying technology includes a low-impact vacuum radiant energy system for dehydration, which maintains natural vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Fruits and vegetables are whole, including skin and seeds to maximize antioxidants and phytonutrients.
The MicroDried line includes non-GMO, gluten-free, and allergen-free products available in whole pieces, chewy and crunchy fragments, and coarse or fine grind powders.
Paste & Juice
Contact: [email protected], +201004177766
Specializes in: Tomato Paste, Fruit Puree
Paste & Juice (P&J) is a tomato paste and fruit puree manufacturer from Egypt in operation since 1995. P&J produces tomato paste 36%–38% CB (cold break) and tomato paste 28%–30% CB/HB (hot break), chili paste, and fruit pulps.
The company’s production lines have capacity of 1,000 tons/day, and by the end of 2023, P&J is targeting a new production line of 2,000 tons/day. P&J exports to Europe, the United States, South America, Africa, and the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) countries.
According to the World Processing Tomato Council, P&J is ranked as the No.1 exporter of bulk tomato paste in Egypt, Africa, and the MENA area and No. 39 among the top 50 tomato processing companies worldwide in 2023. The company is certified ISO 22000, OHSAS 18001, HACCP, FDA/FCE, BRC, IFS, halal, and kosher. Visit P&J at booth S1400.
Revela Foods
Contact: Ben Zirbel, innovation manager, [email protected]
Specializes in: Flavors, Sauces, Seasonings, Functional Cheese
Every day, companies compete with one another to see who is the most innovative. There is pressure to keep up with trends and provide exceptional solutions to customers’ challenges. This stems from the developmental processes of collaboration, innovation, and ideation. The core of this process is innovation.
The company’s latest blog, available at revelafoods.com/blog, details how Revela Foods is using innovation to solve complex problems, streamline processes, and cultivate customer success as well as expediting product development to get its customers’ products to market faster. The blog also provides insights into the company’s innovation and ideation process and its approach to overcoming innovation challenges.
For more information, contact innovation manger Ben Zirbel via the email address included here.
Sethness Roquette
Contact: Sujata Malhotra, head of sales and marketing, [email protected], 630.730.1411
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. Sethness Roquette Caramel Colors are available in a wide range of strengths and hues to achieve food colors from light yellows to deep browns. The company offers flexible, stable, and economical coloring solutions to food processors around the globe, and strives to remain on the cutting edge of the food industry by delivering liquid and powder Caramel Colors that satisfy the latest consumer demands, such as simpler, easy-to-understand clean labeling, and by using safe, “free-from” ingredients.
In addition to the diverse color spectrum of its Class I to Class IV Caramel Colors, Sethness Roquette offers many clean label options: gluten-free, allergen-free, GRAS, vegan, Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, minimally processed, kosher, and halal.
SilkySweet
Contact: 302.573.3568; [email protected];
Lab Sample Orders: silkysweet.com/request-sample.php
Specializes in: Flavor-Enhancing Sweetener
Formulators seeking to reduce sugar without compromising taste or mouthfeel will benefit from the use of a sweetener blend enabling 100% all-natural, sugar-free formulations that improve food and beverage flavor profiles versus pure cane sugar and other sweeteners.
SilkySweet’s Flavor Enhancement is optimal for reformulating food and beverage products targeted as category leaders for taste, mouthfeel, and health, with all-natural/organic ingredients and ketogenic certification. Dramatic flavor improvements have been achieved in coffee, tea, cocoa/chocolate/confections, lemon juice/citrus, carbonated soft drinks, dairy, plant-based milks and proteins, keto-friendly bakery, and more, the company says.
To experience SilkySweet in a beverage, please request taste samples of SilkySweet Keto Cola: all-natural and zero sugar. Keto Cola was recently featured in an informal blind taste test at a public venue versus the Mexican cane sugar version of a popular cola, and it was overwhelmingly preferred. Visit booth S4658.
Suzanne’s Specialties
Contact: James R. Morano, 800.762.2135
Specializes in: Sweeteners
Suzanne’s Specialties is introducing a new soluble cane fiber (SCF) ingredient to the North American market. This SCF is produced by a controlled fermentation of non-GMO sugarcane, which yields a natural inulin having a very uniform and tight polydispersity.
The average degree of polymerization (DP) for Suzanne’s Specialties’ soluble cane fiber is 18 with a narrow range of >DP10 to <DP26. This highly predictable DP yields a very consistent functionality and higher solubility compared with either native chicory root fiber (chicory inulin) or Jerusalem artichoke inulin, both of which have rather broad DP ranges of >DP10 to <DP60, with the average DP fluctuating from high to low, depending on crop year/variety as well as harvest, storage, and processing conditions.
Sweegen
Contact: Katharina Pueller, 949.709.0583, [email protected]
Specializes in: Sweetener Systems, Sweet Proteins, Sugar Reduction Solutions, Flavors for Taste Modulation, Signature Stevia Systems, Beverages, Foods, Dairy, Bakery, Confectionery, Sauces
Sweegen’s commitment to delivering industry-leading ingredient plat-forms for sugar reduction is demonstrated in its menu at IFT FIRST. The menu highlights several curated themes: “California Cruisin,” “Transport to the Tropics,” and “Way Back Western.” Attendees can expect innov-ative technologies in sugar-reduction solutions demonstrated in popular breakfast items, tacos, satay sauces, and more.
Recently, Sweegen launched Sweetensify Flavors, an innovative tool for food and beverage producers to create healthier products. Powered by Sweegen’s FEMA GRAS novel brazzein technology, Sweetensify Flavors allow manufacturers to push the boundaries of product innovation by reducing or eliminating sugar while maintaining optimal flavor expression. Sweetensify Flavors enable product developers to enhance characteristic flavors and sweetness quality and synergize with Sweegen’s robust Bestevia signature stevia system.
Sweetensify Flavors offer a wide range of benefits across sweet and savory applications, including flavor enhancement, bitterness blocking, astringency reduction, aftertaste elimination, and alcohol burn mitigation. Visit booth S1619.
Van Drunen Farms
Contact: [email protected]
Specializes in: Freeze-Dried, Drum-Dried, IQF, Custom Ingredient Solutions
At Van Drunen Farms and FutureCeuticals, the focus is on making lives better with whole fruits, vegetables, herbs, and grain-based ingredients. Visit Van Drunen at the IFT FIRST Food Expo to talk about partnering to make plant-based eating easier and more enjoyable.
At IFT FIRST, the company will feature Coffeeberry coffee fruit solutions, Udderly Oats oat milk powder, and NatureKnit gut health solution, as well as other branded ingredient solutions.
Coffeeberry is a portfolio of unique and powerful coffee fruit ingredients. As the pioneer of coffee fruit nutrition, FutureCeuticals is a leader in the research, development, and sustainable sourcing of ingredients from coffee fruit. The team discovered an eco-friendly path that preserves the nutritional goodness found within this powerful superfruit.
To learn more about this and Van Drunen’s other ingredient solutions, visit the company at IFT FIRST, booth S1924.
Wintersun
Contact: [email protected]
Specializes in: Food, Nutrition, Pharmaceutical
Wintersun has been a trusted ingredient supplier since 2001. Head-quartered in Ontario, Calif., Wintersun has over 70,000 square feet of office and warehouse space. Wintersun is committed to excellence. From manufacturing, packaging, and delivery, the company strives to provide quality, reliability, and the highest levels of customer service.
Wintersun describes its mission as focused on providing consistent and reliable sources of ingredients while prioritizing the unique needs of each customer. Wintersun’s established partnerships with many worldwide suppliers ensures a trusted and diverse selection of products.