Bolasco, which made its debut at the FIE trade show in Frankfurt last week, has been formed by Germany’s Boesch Boden Spies in order to focus on fruit ingredients. The parent company observed swelling interest from consumers and industry in natural ingredients, and its core offerings include Sunsweet prunes and prune ingredients, Ocean Spray’s cranberry ingredients, and almond ingredients from Blue Diamond.
“For manufacturers, fruit and nut ingredients not only offer a positive marketing tool but also the opportunity to replace additives and other ingredients with cost-effective, natural alternatives,” said Bolasco managing director Michael Rund.
Fruit-derived powders, concentrates and purees can replace the likes of sorbitol and polydextrose, as well as gelling agents and artificial flavours, the company points out.
In bakery applications, ingredients from prunes can be used to extend shelf life, because the natural sorbitol in the fruit helps retain moisture. Prunes can also be used instead of shortenings, reducing calorie content by up to 70 per cent but retaining the expected mouthfeel, texture and flavour; and cranberries are offered to give baked goods a splash of colour.
Prunes are also promoted for their potential to replace preservatives in meats, as their antioxidants work to prevent the unsaturated fatty acids from turning rancid. Prune juice is suggested as a way to tenderise meat, either by injection with brine or used as part of a marinade.
Meanwhile, use of whole or sliced almonds in snack products is suggested as a way to improve texture and provide a full flavour. When the skins are included, which contain a lot of vitamin E, they can help prolong product shelf-life too.
In addition to their technical uses, fruit ingredient have a strong draw through the perception of naturalness and healthiness.
Bolasco’s approach involves educating customers about the potential uses of fruit-derived ingredients and working with them on the applications.