The “plant-based revolution” is the term Innova Market Insights uses for the continuing worldwide boom in plant-based food and beverages. In the US and in Europe, for example, the demand for meat alternatives is rising rapidly. According to experts, one reason is that the Corona crisis has made many more consumers rethink their eating habits. In addition to health and enjoyment, safety, environment and animal welfare are becoming more and more important to consumers when buying foods.
Plant-based alternatives to meat, sausage and dairy products have long since gone mainstream, and fish alternatives are now the next big thing in vegan products. For Florian Bark, Hydrosol Product Manager, they are the “plant-based stars for 2020.” “The primary reasons for choosing plant-based substitute products are aspects like sustainability, animal welfare and climate change. This is where the fish alternatives come in. Environmental organisations advise cutting back on consumption of ocean fish, due to overfishing. Aspects like microplastic are further arguments.” Hydrosol has already developed various product ideas for this new segment. For example, with the HydroTOP VEGAN RB 5 full compound, plant-based alternatives to breaded fish sticks and fish filet can be made based on a rice texturate. Another new product is alternative tuna, which looks and tastes like canned tuna and can be used in many different ways.
Since 2014 the Hydrosol line of plant-based concepts for meat and sausage, dairy products, deli foods and convenience has expanded rapidly. Fish alternatives are among the latest new products from the Plant-Based Competence Center. “Plant-based alternatives to fish products are just a step away from going mainstream,” says Florian Bark. “Many manufacturers are looking to us for new concepts in this category, which has enormous sales potential.”
About Hydrosol:
Hydrosol GmbH & Co. KG headquartered in Ahrensburg near Hamburg, Germany, is a fast-growing international supplier of food stabilisers, with subsidiaries around the world. Its specialists develop and produce tailor-made stabiliser systems for dairy products, ice cream and desserts, delicatessen foods and ready meals, as well as meat, sausage and fish products. The company also supplies solutions for beverages, and for vegetarian and vegan alternatives to meat and dairy products. With its international network of 16 affiliates and numerous qualified foreign representatives, the company is represented in the world’s key markets. As a subsidiary of the independent, owner-operated Stern-Wywiol Gruppe with a total of twelve sister companies, Hydrosol can make use of many synergies. The company has access to the knowledge of some 100 R&D specialists and to the extensive applications technology of the large Stern-Technology Center in Ahrensburg, Germany. It also benefits from shared production facilities and the Group’s own logistics resources, so it can offer customers a high degree of flexibility and innovation capabilities. The Stern-Wywiol Gruppe is one of the world’s most successful international suppliers of food & feed ingredients.
