Alternative sweeteners can be defined as the food additives that are developed synthetically, but give the same sweet taste as that of sugar and have very low fat & calorie content.
Owing to the increasing number of people suffering from diabetes & hypertension, rising awareness among the people about the health benefits of the products, and changed inclination towards a healthier lifestyle are some of the driving factors responsible for the high demand in the global alternative sweeteners market.
These sweeteners are available in several types such as low-intensity sweeteners, high-intensity sweeteners, & high fructose syrup and cater to different needs of the consumers. Alternative sweeteners are now widely being used in bakery, confectionery, and other food & beverage products, boosting the market demand further.
However, due to increase in health-conscious people who are looking for foods and beverages that have natural sweeteners is one of the key factors limiting the growth of the global alternative sweeteners market. Nevertheless, competitive product pricing is foreseen to provide new growth avenues for the market players.
The global alternative sweeteners market is mainly divided into product type, application, and region. In terms of product type, the global market is segmented into High-Intensity Sweetener (HIS), High-Fructose Syrup (HFS), and Low-Intensity Sweetener (LIS). As per the application segment, the market is classified into food & beverages and others.
Geographically, the global alternative sweeteners market is estimated to grow at a moderate rate in North America in the future. Increased cases of obesity and rising number of people suffering from diabetes have led to the demand for low-calorie foods and sweeteners, acting as key factors supporting the growth. Besides, Latin America is also foreseen to witness growth due to rising disposable income and an increase in health issues among the people.
However, the global market is likely to be dominated by Europe in the forecast period with exponential growth owing to improved research activities and technological advancements. Moreover, increasing awareness about the health advantages of alternative sweeteners that are low in calories is also supporting the market growth. The rising usage in the food and beverage industry is also contributing to regional growth.
Asia Pacific is also foreseen to register a substantial growth rate owing to increasing health-conscious people, increased disposable income, and improvement in the economy, coupled with better living standards.
Ajinomoto Co., Inc., Cargill Incorporated, Archer-Daniels-Midland-Company, DuPont Nutrition & Health, Ingredion Incorporated, GLG Life Tech Corporation, Naturex S.A., PureCircle Limited, Tate & Lyle Plc., and Associated British Foods Plc., etc are some of the reigning companies operating in the global alternative sweeteners market.
To cite, a while ago, Cargill came up with a new range of sugar-free cookies called “Ever sweet” approved by the FDA. Moreover, Ajinomoto also came up with a zero-calorie sweetener “Advantame,” which is a combination of aspartame ad vanillin.