Tate & Lyle wins best new functional ingredient concept

At the 2011 Beverage Innovation Functional Drinks Awards, Tate & Lyle won ‘best new functional ingredient concept’ for its Quince apple Enrich drink developed for the European market. The awards, held in Washington, DC, honored the beverage market’s best innovations and received over 150 entries from 22 countries.

With Quince apple Enrich, Tate & Lyle aimed to create a drink that tastes great but also helps consumers to manage their weight and maintain healthy intestinal functions. Recent surveys conducted by Tate & Lyle show that fiber heads up the list of nutrients that European consumers believe they lack, and a lot of those consumers are actively looking for food and drinks that are lower in sugar or calories.

“This award is great recognition of our ingredient and formulation expertise in the field of health and wellness,” said Isabelle Routier, applications manager Europe, Speciality Food Ingredients. “It also shows how we are always looking at innovating and developing new prototypes for our customer.”

The Quince apple Enrich drink has 40% fewer calories than regular full-sugar juice drinks, and delivers a ‘high in fiber’ claim with 7.5 grams of fiber per 250 ml serving, without altering the taste. Tate & Lyle have achieved this by using soluble Sta-Lite Polydextrose fibre and a combination of Splenda Sucralose and Fructopure Fructose to give a high-quality fruit taste.

OTHER WINNERS AT THE 2011 BEVERAGE INNOVATION FUNCTIONAL DRINKS AWARDS

Best natural functional drink: SPI West Port from the US with Alõ Drink

Best energy drink: Ex Drinks from the US with Ex Pure Energy

Best alertness drink: Nawgan Products from the US with Nawgan

Best relaxation drink: Big Quark from the US with BeautySleep

Best sports or fitness drink: GT Beverage Company from the US with Sportastic

Best health drink: Meiji Dairies Corporation from Japan with Meiji Yogurt Drink R-1

Best children’s functional drink: GT Beverage with Sportastic

Best beauty drink: Abios from Japan with Kosanka

Best shot:Dragon Nutrition from Ireland with Little Dragon Shots

Best functional drink brand or business: Pure Product from Germany with Ocóo

Best natural ingredient for functional drinks: Biovelop from Sweden with PromOat

Best new functional ingredient concept: Tate & Lyle from France with Quince Apple Enrich

Best packaging for functional drinks: Rexam with Ocóo, in Rexam Fusion Bottle

Best functional drink label: All-Day Energy from the UK with iShot

Best functional drinks print marketing/consumer campaign: Pure Product from Germany with Ocóo

Best functional drinks TV/cinema advertising campaign: Wimm-Bill-Dann from Russia with Profilact 120/​80

Best overall concept: Nawgan Products from the US with Nawgan