For the last five years the deli sauces and seasonings market has recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of six percent in revenue worldwide, according to Innova Market Insights. For the coming five years trend researchers expect growth in the segment to remain constant. Europe is the leader in new product launches by a wide margin, followed by Asia and North America. A look at these categories shows that cooking sauces make up the largest share of product launches. Table sauces come in second, with pasta sauces following in third place.
Table Sauces: One System, Many Possibilities
Hydrosol has developed stabilizing systems for various deli sauces that enable a wide range of new product ideas. One of its bestselling systems is part of the Stabisol range. “This system is an absolute all-rounder,” reports Dr. Katharina Burdorf, Team Lead Product Management at Hydrosol. “It has become most established in classic applications like ketchup and red sauces, but it also provides the basis for many other formulations. Together with special spice mixes and extracts, it serves as a base for a curry sauce to accompany the traditional German currywurst. A mustard sauce is also no problem.”
Since the advent of Instagram & Co., culinary influences from around the world have added variety to eating habits, and the ingredients have become fixtures on supermarket shelves in many areas. Standards include Asian sauces like sweet & sour and sweet chili, which are popular for chicken nuggets and much else. Italian pesto has also become a widespread category. “Using our stabilizing system we’ve developed recipes for sauces inspired by traditional pesto versions. They’re ideal for pasta, while also permitting economical manufacture,” says Burdorf. “In addition to these examples, other sauces with international flavor influences are possible.”
Reduced Costs, Enhanced Nutrition
This flexible stabilizing system was developed for products with different tomato and sugar contents. Accordingly, it also offers the possibility of producing lower cost formulations. Hydrosol uses carefully selected hydrocolloids and specific starches to substitute for the beneficial technological properties of sugar. They give the final products a pleasant texture and familiar mouthfeel.
The reduced sugar content can also be used for nutritionally optimized products. For example, as alternatives to calorie-heavy standard products, Hydrosol offers special formulations for children aged five to twelve, featuring kid-friendly flavors and improved nutritional content. With the help of this stabilizing system manufacturers can use not just tomatoes, but also other vegetables like carrots or pumpkin in recipes and products so that parents can give their kids vegetables in “hidden” form.
Consulting and Service: Make the Most of It
The Hydrosol team works with manufacturers to identify customer-specific solutions that can be made with the help of this system. These tailor-made formulations are a central part of the service package. With decades of research on ingredients, Hydrosol has comprehensive knowledge with enormous depth of detail, and its individual customer consulting and support are therefore in great demand.
Customers also profit from simplified data management and minimization of stock keeping units (SKUs). By getting everything from a single source manufacturers can significantly reduce their administration costs. “Our close relationships on the raw materials markets are also advantageous,” notes Burdorf. “Thanks to our supplier networks we can ensure good availability of needed raw materials. In addition, we can offer customers better terms. Since we typically source in large quantities, we get favorable pricing that we can pass on to our customers.”
