Ingredients
Guilt-less
                                                                      Indulgence:
                    Palatinit and Aalst Chocolate
                                                Sweetener company Palatinin, partners a chocolate
                                            manufacturer to develop healthier chocolate, bringing joy to
                                           the many who love chocolate, but without the feelings of guilt
                                                   erman specialty sweetener company Palatinit, together with
                                         G         Singaporean chocolate manufacturer, Aalst Chocolate, have
                                                   developed a promising range of premium chocolate for industry
                                         players as well as consumers.
                                            Aalst Chocolate has extended “No Added Sugar” series from chocolate to
                                         compound for manufacturers and food service users. Currently, prominent food
                                         industrialists in India and Latin America are its biggest buyers for the “No
                                         Added Sugar” ice cream coatings.
                                            There has been increasing number of enquiries from consumers for such
36 FOOD & BEVERAGE ASIA JUNE/JULY 2007
                                                                                                                  Ingredients
“No Added Sugar” products. This has
further boosted the confidence of
Aalst Chocolate to introduce this
range to its consumer brands -
Chocolate Line and Aalst.
    This collaboration reveals not just
the growing demand for healthier
chocolate but also Palatinit’s
confidence that Isomalt has earned its
place in the premium chocolate
market. Ms Connie Kwan, COO of
Aalst Chocolate elaborates, “we use
the finest and freshest ingredients for
our chocolates and we wanted to
extend our portfolio to include the “no
sugar added” varieties to capture the
growing        health        conscious
population.”                              There has been increasing number of enquiries from consumers for such “No
    “We were convinced that Isomalt       Added Sugar” products according to Euromonitor
was the better sugar replacer because
of its pure, sugar-like taste which       period. Palatinit strongly believes that   material for a wide array of refiners.
helps enhance the cocoa flavors,          sugar replacement will be one of the       And physiologically speaking,
making it not only healthier but also     major drivers for product innovation       chocolates made with Isomalt LM
making chocolate taste like the real      in the near future.                        also have a lower glycemic and
thing.”                                       Only recently, Palatinit has           insulinaemic index compared to other
    As with other confectionery           developed a new Isomalt version for        reduced sugar chocolates e.g.
products, a large part of the allure of   chocolate production, specifically         sweetened with other sugar replacers.
chocolate lies in its taste and           designed with very low moisture            This could be a decisive advantage in
consumers will not compromise on it       content and labeled Isomalt LM. This       the battle for health-minded
even over health concerns. There is       version is available in two types with     consumers.
an emotional value attached with the      different particle size distribution to
                                                                                                         Enquiry No: 023
consumption of chocolate as it is often   give manufacturers the most suitable
seen as an indulgence and a reward.
    In recent years, better technology,
modern ingredients and greater
knowledge on their use are allowing
manufacturers to come up with
healthier products that taste just as
good as their conventional sugared
counterparts.
    “Health messages are getting
through to consumers who are in turn
looking towards healthier alternatives
such as reduced sugar lines and we
can expect to see even more growth
and innovation in chocolate.”
    According to a recent update,
Euromonitor ’s global chocolate
market’s compound annual growth
rate is estimated at 5% between 2000
and 2006, while the reduced sugar
chocolate market’s estimated annual       Palatinit strongly believes that by using sugarbeet-based sweeteners, sugar
growth was put at 8% for the same         replacement will be a major drivers for product innovation in the near future
                                                                                              FOOD & BEVERAGE ASIA JUNE/JULY 2007 37