J.O.Sims looks east for fruit ingredient supplies
J.O.Sims has linked up with German supplier Dinter Trading, which
will provide the UK firm with a range of fruit berries from eastern
Europe. Fruit ingredients firms have seen steady lifts in revenues
as consumers turn increasingly towards natural ingredients as
health concerns strike home.
Dinter Trading will supply the Lincolnshire-based company with a range of berry fruits including raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and cherries. A major source of revenue, .J.O.Sims told FoodNavigator.com recently that berries now account for 80 per cent of total ingredient sales.
"With the recovery of the fruit preparations sector in the last few years, there is now huge interest in using frozen fruits for high fruit definition in premium products such as jams and preserves. Our agreement with Dinter will allow us the breadth of range to meet this demand, and ensure ongoing development of new fruit ingredients for this sector," commented Lee Doleman, general manager of J.O Sims' Ingredients division.
Munich-based Dinter Trading - that controls 95 per cent of output from its Eastern European plants - has a number of freezing plants and offices in Poland, Turkey, the Czech Republic and Serbia.
J.O. Sims was impressed by the maturity of Dinter's supply chain, and its well-established links in Central America, which will provide a new source of non-berry fruits such as kiwi, melons and apples, the UK firm said in a statement.
In February this year J.O. Sims launched a new Canadian produced berry - the Saskatoon - onto the market marking a fresh revenue source for the 100-year-old UK company.
With an almond-cherry taste profile, and a member of the apple family, saskatoon berries are available in the UK for the first time after 10 years on Canadian supermarket shelves.
"This is a big opportunity for the food industry, particularly those working in bakery and beverages, and those looking for novel ingredients," Jim McKee at the fruits ingredients company said to FoodNavigator.com.
The firm claims the almond-cherry flavour of the fruit gives manufacturers the advantage of providing a nutty flavour without having nuts in the factory.
Fruit pieces, juices, extracts, pastes and purees are important ingredients with applications in a wide range of food and beverage products. They can contribute sweetness, colour, consumer appeal, natural preservatives, and a smooth mouthfeel and texture, which aids in fat replacement. Fruits act as natural humectants which can extend the shelf life of many foods and contain many phytochemicals linked to benefits for human health.
