Here is your weekly round-up of ingredients news. Next week’s round-up will focus on packaging news. To submit an item for inclusion, please contact Carly Wood at [email protected].

• EHL Ingredients is preparing for a protein packed 2016, as nuts, grains and beans are set to soar in popularity due to the latest health trends.
• Herza is introducing a range is organic chocolate pieces produced without sucrose; the sweet taste is achieved with coconut sugar, lucuma or rice syrup, which have a comparatively low glycaemic index.
• Direct Food Ingredients celebrates 21 years in business by announcing a significant 52% annual like for like growth, with sales of £13.7 million in 2015.
• Canadean’s latest quarterly beverage tracker reports contain a special focus on soft drinks flavour trends and innovations, which highlight a noticeable migration towards local fruits and natural flavours.
• Consumers perceive sugar as both a ‘friend and foe’ in their nutrition, according to new consumer research commissioned by functional ingredients manufacturer Beneo.