Indulgencia Inclusiva: Delicias Personalizadas

Having it your way is more than just a great slogan; it’s been the mindset of North American consumers for decades.

When applying this axiom to a trip to the grocery store, this is most often about having options, and this is something food developers continue to excel at.

Over the past few years, this has also meant greater personalization in one’s shopping list.

“Personalized means it works for me in my situation, for my physiological needs and my wellness demands, or for a specific occasion. Sometimes, even both,” says Dr. Bernd Koehler, VP of Global R&D at Edlong.

“The rapid increase in functional foods and products designed to fit the demands of consumers’ busy, on-the-go lifestyles have taken personalization to a new level. Yet, as this expanding range of options hits the market, there are still other needs and specific demographics that will require attention.”

While convenient and functional products may fall under the category of “smart” or “healthy” indulgence, what about inclusive indulgence?

But what exactly is inclusive indulgence?

Despite the overwhelming number of indulgent products hitting the shelves, shoppers with particular or dietary requirements have all too often been excluded or severely restricted in what is available to them.

The plant-based revolution has been a significant breakthrough for dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian consumers, but although these products continue to grow and improve, many still don’t quite measure up to their traditional counterparts.

Then, there are more specific allergen requirements, notably gluten-free, nuts, soy, etc. Again, the number of offerings is increasing, but for many consumers they are still a long way from hitting the mark.

When considering this reality, the question quickly becomes, “What can food developers do to ensure these consumers aren’t getting left out of all of the indulgent innovation happening right now?”

Dr. Koehler believes it comes down to three crucial considerations.

“Crafting inclusive products is about more than just checking a box. It’s about offering something that is high quality, accessible, and at a price point that doesn’t punish the consumers for something they have little to no choice over.”

Quality, Accessibility, Price

As Dr. Koehler explains, creating an inclusive product requires first and foremost meeting the quality standards consumers expect from their food.

He stresses, “Just because a consumer has specific needs that differ from the majority, doesn’t mean they should have to settle for a lower quality food.”

Using high-quality and often innovative ingredients may be necessary to achieve this.

However, that can come at a premium and puts pressure on the other aspects of accessibility and price, Dr. Koehler addresses.

He explains that in addition to maintaining top quality, it’s essential that such products are accessible. In other words, their availability not only allows shoppers to find them easily, but they are also relatively affordable in comparison to other products.

Oh, and they have to taste great as well.

This is easier said than done, but with the right partners, it may be easier than one might expect.

True Indulgence with Authentic Taste

“Whenever you change your formula, whether it’s adding or removing ingredients, there can be sensory-related issues,” states Angie Lantman, Manager – NA Applications at Edlong.

She explains how a significant percentage of Edlong’s impressive range of authentic profiles are actually dairy and allergen-free, giving developers an excellent starting point for their products.

Additionally, Edlong’s team of experts is able to utilize state-of-the-art masking and mouthfeel technologies as well as sweetness and saltiness enhancement tools to build back the indulgence consumers deserve.

“What really makes the difference for consumers is authenticity. Does it taste the way they expect it to? Honestly, that is where many of these products fall short. Usually, the highest compliment they get is a surprised, It’s good for a… fill in the blank.”

With incredibly and authentically indulgent sweet brown classics like chocolates, vanillas, caramels, and cookies, international profiles like Irish Cream, Dulce de Leche, and speculoos, and excellent trending and seasonal options like pumpkin spice, gingerbread, birthday cake, and more, Lantman feels that Edlong’s tailored flavor solutions can change that “It’s good for…” to simply “It’s good.”