Our overview of the upcoming Food ingredients Europe exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany continues with a peek at UK flavours company Treatt.

The company said this week that 'visitors on the lookout for savoury flavour ingredients to stimulate the senses' should stop by their stand where they can investigate 'all natural, vegetable-based distillates'.

Distilled from fresh fruit and vegetables, the company claims that flavours which 'impart high impact, fresh notes' will be on display, including a natural, spicy black pepper distillate, and the recently FEMA (Flavour and Extract Manufacturers Association) approved flavour chemical, 3-Methyl-2,4-nonanedione.

Roasted pepper, watercress and celery are the latest savoury additions to the Treattarome range of FTNF (from the named food) speciality aqueous distillates.

Applications for the new products include vegetable blends and beverages plus soups, sauces and dressings.

In an increasingly health-conscious market consumers are looking for the apparent goodness of natural flavors. Flavourists like Treatt are keen to develop new lines of natural flavours that meet the needs of food and beverage manufacturers.

In May this year, despite an increase in sales, Treatt described trading for the six months to 31 March 2003 as 'challenging' , with profit before tax falling by 24 per cent to £955,000 (€1.3m) compared to £1,255,000 in 2002.