Seen in nearly all food and beverage industries across the globe, the rise in clean label products is rapidly taking over the condiment category. In fact, 48% of consumers want condiments made with healthy ingredients, and 39% want these products to be naturally flavored1. But global shoppers don’t just want the tired and tasteless old toppings, they want alternatives ready to “wow” their taste buds with bold and brilliant flavors.
We spoke with Renee de Ravin, APAC Sales Director to get a better understanding about the demand she is seeing for innovative sauces and dressings, and how freeze-dried ingredients can help R&D teams develop the dip of a diner’s dreams.
Q: Has the condiment industry, including dressings, dips, and sauces, changed in recent years? If so, how?
Consumers are treating this category as an opportunity to jazz up their meals, resulting in the overall increase in premiumisation of dressings, dips, and sauces. This includes enhanced flavour options with an increased focus on health and sustainable packaging. But remember, this isn’t just for the bottle in your refrigerator. Shoppers also want these premium options in convenient sizes to take on-the-go, such as smaller hummus, hot sauce, and salad dressing packets. We are also seeing popular QSR branded sauces available for people to take home from retailers, instead of only being available at the restaurant.
Q: Has the condiment industry, including dressings, dips, and sauces, changed in recent years? If so, how?
Consumers are treating this category as an opportunity to jazz up their meals, resulting in the overall increase in premiumisation of dressings, dips, and sauces. This includes enhanced flavour options with an increased focus on health and sustainable packaging. But remember, this isn’t just for the bottle in your refrigerator. Shoppers also want these premium options in convenient sizes to take on-the-go, such as smaller hummus, hot sauce, and salad dressing packets. We are also seeing popular QSR branded sauces available for people to take home from retailers, instead of only being available at the restaurant.
Q: As a food manufacturer, what are the market opportunities to innovate exciting new products within this category? How can you stand out?
Brands can tap into the interests in clean label and sustainability to suit these demands. Determine which products are fan-favourites, and formulate a healthier alternative – made with natural ingredients – to replicate the beloved taste, without the undesirable additives. Ramp up the interest by not only sourcing sustainably grown ingredients, but also packaging the product in an eco-friendly manner. This way, brands can create a delicious, clean condiment that pleases a wide range of consumers.
Q: What other food industry trends are influencing the sauces and dips market?
Shoppers are searching for exotic flavours from cultures all over the world. Condiments make it easy for people to dip their toe – or better yet, crisps – into these international cuisines. This has resulted in scrumptious pourable, dippable, and spreadable products like Ginger Peanut Dressing to Teppanyaki Sauce.
Well known health-focused influencers and chefs have also branched out into this space by using their likenesses to develop a condiment for their target audience. By combining their popularity and insights, they can launch sauce and dip alternatives curated specifically for their followers.
Q: Are there any challenges brands run into when developing an innovative sauce or dip? How can these be overcome?
Whether they store it in kitchen cabinets or the refrigerator, people typically want sauces and dips to have an extended shelf life, as a bottle of sauce is rarely polished off in a single sitting. Plus, consumers anticipate that the texture will be consistent throughout its shelf life. When combined with the desire for natural ingredients, this can cause challenges for the brand, as those three demands are not always easy to meet when combined. But there is a solution.
Brands can source ingredients that help them meet these demands, such as freeze-dried fruits and vegetables. With an extended shelf life and bold colour and flavour all in one natural ingredient, freeze-dried fruits and vegetables can help achieve the desired taste, texture, and overall appearance for these consumers.
Q: How does working with Chaucer and its ingredients help brands remain relevant and competitive?
On top of being a trusted supplier of sustainable, natural, and delicious freeze-dried ingredients, our teams at Chaucer Foods are experts in global formulation trends, category shifts, and consumer expectations. Partnering with us means you and your team have a built-in support system helping you overcome any challenges and getting your product on the shelves.
If you would like to learn more about what’s to come for the sauces and dips category, contact us at customer.services@chaucerfoods.com and connect with our team.
1 – “Regional and International Flavors 2023,” T. Hasegawa USA Inc. 2023.