As Ocean Spray navigates demand for ‘functional benefits’ it must also balance education, taste Successfully meeting rising demand for “functional benefits” goes beyond adding on-trend ingredients with health properties to line-extensions or new products – it also requires brands to navigate a “two-way street” with consumers to balance education and taste requirements with function, according to Ocean Spray.
Through the process of launching its Atoka line of herbalist-crafted beverages with health benefits through its Lighthouse Incubator Program, Ocean Spray discovered the importance of being
“committed to testing, learning and always leading with the consumer so that we listen, iterate and optimize to meet their expectations,” Dana Testa, associate brand manager at Ocean Spray, told FoodNavigator-USA.
Dive Brief:
Ocean Spray introduced an upcycled Cranberry Seeds product said to have 1.6 times more fiber than chia and flax seeds as well as zinc, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids. Because the seeds are upcycled from food waste, they support a zero-waste supply chain, the agricultural cooperative said.
The sustainably grown seeds have a neutral flavor but add a natural, vibrant red color and supplemental nutritional properties to applications such as baking, smoothies or snack bars, according to the company.
The cooperative is working to diversify its portfolio of cranberry-related products. It has recently expanded its core product offerings to bring it more closely into alignment with current trends, and has entered new categories including functional water.
Dive Brief:
Ocean Spray partnered with Amai Proteins to develop a cranberry juice that has at least 40% less sugar. The product will feature Amai Protein s designer sweet protein, which the company said is thousands of times sweeter than sugar and offers taste, temperature and acid stability and affordability. The companies did not share a timeline for product development.
As part of the agreement, the companies plan to apply learnings from this collaboration on future Ocean Spray lower-caloric products. While Ocean Spray currently offers light juice and drink options sweetened with artificial sweeteners, the collaboration with Amai Protein would continue its pursuit of natural options.