Sweets preparations, Italian ingredients come first

In Italy, the category of preparations for sweets and confectionery closed 2018 with a substantial turnover of 344.4 million euros. This has been possible mainly thanks to the growing demand for products made with excellent ingredients (certified, healthy and characterized by high quality) that can be prepared quickly and easily.

All over the world consumers are increasingly looking for convenience products with a satisfying taste, at the same time capable of ensuring adequate nutritional values for a healthy diet. Among base ingredients for preparations we can find olive oil, or the most valuable flours such as wholemeal flours. The recipes exclude less healthy ingredients, starting with those causing food intolerances. That is why preparations without hydrogenated fats, preservatives, colorants, lactose, and gluten are increasingly successful.

PREPARATIONS FOR SWEETS AND CONFECTIONERY: THE TRENDS

• High-end ingredients: certified, such as 100% Italian, A category eggs coming from land-based farming, and 100% Italian grain;
• Health and wellness: preparations with natural raising agents of vegetable origin such as cremor tartaro, but also to gluten free, lactose and milk free, and wheat free products;
• Convenience: short preparation time is another market trend on which innovation is concentrated, to offer increasingly ready-for-use and easy to implement products;
• Plastic free packaging: the removal of plastic from the packaging is seen as a necessary commitment by most companies. Some players also invest in technologies and processes to minimize product packaging, even in the transport phase.