Cargill has announced a breakthrough in cocoa powder technology which enables faster and improved dispersion in cold drink mix application, according to BeverageDaily.com.
The company claims to be the first to crack the technical challenge of improving the speed at which cocoa powder disappears below the surface of cold liquid – known as wettability.
The report says the new cold dispersible cocoa powders demonstrate increased wettability rates of 100% when compared to market standard and will disperse evenly throughout the liquid. This performance is maintained throughout the product’s shelf life which it says is “something that doesn’t hold true for existing products.”
With a number of patents pending, Cargill is currently unable to further expand on the technology behind this development. Dr Henri Kamphuis, quality and technology director, Cargill Cocoa and Chocolate was quoted telling FoodNavigator.com the work follows “years of research and development work” and is an area which “many manufacturers in this market have been looking at for some time.”
The news comes well in advance of the official launch of the first cocoa powders featuring the new technology, which is scheduled for 2012 under the company’s premium Gerkens premium brand.
Developed specifically for cold drink application, the new product is “aimed at all markets where cocoa drinks are prepared with cold milk,” Kamphuis said, “but is also suitable for use in hot applications.”
The global market for chocolate-based flavoured powder drinks is forecast to grow 76.7% in the ten year period 2005-2015, according to Euromonitor International. It was valued at €4,130.1 million in 2010 with Latin America owning the largest market share, followed by Western Europe and Asia Pacific.
By 2015, total global market value is forecast to increase to €5,695mn, with Latin America retaining the greatest share, followed by Western Europe but with Middle East and Africa region taking third position.
Despite a drop in demand during 2008-09 as a result of the recession, the global cocoa market is now forecast to reach 4.8 million metric tonnes by 2015, according to a recent report by Global Industry Analysts Inc, with Europe identified as the largest market for cocoa worldwide. – Story by BeverageDaily.com