Bell Flavors & Fragrances EMEA launch hemp flavour range

Based on current trends around hemp-based food and beverage products, Bell Flavors & Fragrances EMEA has launched a range of new products for the development of authentic, natural products.
The food and beverage category is driven by the constant change in consumer demand for natural, clean, yet adventurous product options and taste varieties, and hemp-based products are increasingly appearing in the food and drink sector.
Bell’s botanical hemp extracts and natural flavours lend a signature profile to a variety of sweet and savoury applications, including beer and beer-mixers, cider and spirits, non-alcoholic beverages, baked goods, sugar confectionery, sauces such as ketchup and mayonnaise, flavoured oils and meat marinades.
The range of natural flavours is designed to replicate the characteristic herbal and floral taste profile of hemp. Moreover, the all-natural range enables a clean label declaration, that underlines the better-for-you and premium appeal.
Including products designed for the EMEA market, Bell has also launched a US-portfolio of hemp flavours and extracts as well as specific cannabis flavours designed to replicate strain specific terpenes for the Canadian market.
Hemp foods rely on three convergent forces: More countries permitting legal cultivation and processing of hemp, surging investment fuelling product innovation, and the scale and rising consumer interest in the plant’s healthful nutrient profile.
Hemps recent popularity can be mainly attributed to consumers’ growing interest in following plant-based and free-from diets. Moreover, hemp has gained high importance due to its nutritional benefits. Hemp seeds are particularly marketed as a ‘superfood’ due their high omega 3 and 6 content along with highly digestible protein comprised of all essential amino acids.
According to market data provided by technavio, the global hemp-based food market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 24% until 2022, indicating that the hemp trend is going mainstream. New product launches are increasingly driven by categories such as snacks and energy bars, beverages, breakfast cereals and bakery products as well as sauces and seasonings. Most active countries include Germany, the USA, UK, Canada and France.
Further to the hemp trend, the growing buzz around CBD is likely to fuel future innovation in food and beverage developments, based on a growing consumer desire for functional ingredients. However, the regulatory restrictions for CBD are still creating challenges within a number of markets.