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Within the industry, it’s especially important to keep up with consumer trends so we can give them what they want.

The demand for sugar substitutes continues to grow around the world. North America corners most of the market and will have 49% of the global market by 2018 (sugar substitute market), and this means good things for both consumers and the food-processing industry.

Consumers are increasingly aware of what they’re eating, and are paying closer attention than ever to sugar substitutes. Being able to enjoy foods and beverages while knowing their sugar intake is being regulated is a nice idea for consumers. People are concerned about their health, and food manufacturers are responding.

The food-processing industry is doing well for a number of reasons, not the least of which is consumer awareness in more areas than just sugar substitutes. People want to know from where their food is coming today, and with all the advancements in sugar substitutes, it leads to a booming market.

Advancements in Sugar Substitutes

There are a number of different sugar substitutes available. Because each type is different to some degree, there is no one generic sugar substitute that properly applies to every product.

Different products require different sugar substitutes for maximum effectiveness in each application.

In North America, these advancements are going forth at a quick pace. Around the world, the sugar-substitute market is still developing as populations grow and demand alternatives to sugar.

Consumers Drive the Market

This is no shock. The market has to respond to consumer demand or the market vanishes. As consumers continue to look closer at the ingredients in their foods and beverages, sugar substitutes will continue to be prevalent, evolving with the market and adapting to each application.

Do you see your customers taking more care in knowing what they’re eating and drinking? How does the sugar-substitute market affect you? Let us know how we can help!

There are a lot of different options when promoting your pastries. Between the local, healthy, organic, all natural, we often forget that at the end of the day a lot of people want their pastries sweet.

In our beginning over 65 years ago, when we only sold sugars, we have seen many different changes in what small and large bakeries market. It used to be, “We have the sweetest pastries in town” then “We have the freshest pastries in town” and now it is “We have the most organic or local or healthy pastries in town”. It’s not to say that these marketing tactics don’t work but research* from leading confectioners show that when people indulge in sweets they don’t care if it is healthy. In fact, saying it’s healthy might lose sales.

This might take a little bit of explaining so let’s start from the beginning. When the health craze began around 50 years ago people started trying to make healthier candies and while “candy that is good for you” sounds like a great thing; people didn’t buy it. Even today when, as many would say, we are at the peak of another health craze people still choose their candies and sweets, like pastries, based on flavor over healthiness. In fact, to take it even further, people are less likely to buy sweets and pastries that are marketed as healthy.

To think of it from the mind of your customer, understand that when they go in to buy a pastry, they are expecting to indulge themselves. They have already factored into their minds that they will be taking in certain amount of calories and sugars. However, when they think of the item as healthy, it doesn’t turn into a positive, but instead it becomes a negative because of what the customer perceives natural or healthy food to taste like. A better idea is to still use quality and healthy ingredients but when promoting the goods use words like “sweet” and “delicious” instead of words like “healthy” or “all natural”. Give your customer the best of both worlds, even if they don’t know it!

* This information comes from a personal interview with head of marketing at K&M Food Concepts April 2012.