According to Mintel, a significant majority of American consumers (84%) are actively reducing their sugar intake. This trend has resulted in a growing demand for alternative sweeteners, particularly those derived from stevia, which experienced the fastest growth in this category last year. Sales of other natural sweeteners, including agave syrup, honey, and monk fruit, whether caloric or low-calorie, are also on the rise. However, manufacturers have faced taste challenges with stevia and monk fruit, leading several companies to create products that blend these two sweeteners to mitigate bitterness. Early adopters included Chobani, which launched its Simply 100 Greek yogurt line in 2013 featuring a blend of stevia and monk fruit. That same year, Zevia updated its stevia-sweetened soda to incorporate monk fruit extract.
In contrast, GLG Life Tech took a different path. Initially focusing solely on stevia extracts, the company entered the monk fruit market in 2014 as more businesses began to combine these sweeteners. Last year, GLG partnered with Colorado-based MycoTechnology to utilize the bitter-blocking properties of mushroom mycelium in its stevia and monk fruit sweeteners, enhancing the appeal of its products, including those in the ADM lineup. MycoTechnology’s certified organic ClearTaste powder offers a clean label advantage, which can be listed as ‘natural flavor(ing)’ or ‘natural flavor enhancer’ on ingredient labels.
While monk fruit extracts tend to be pricier than stevia extracts, their unique taste profile can make them a more appealing choice for manufacturers, depending on the desired flavors of the final products. In June, ADM announced its partnership with GLG Life Tech, becoming the exclusive distributor and marketer of its low-calorie stevia and monk fruit sweeteners. This collaboration helps to expand ADM’s global low-calorie sweetener portfolio, which already includes products like VivaSweet sucralose. Furthermore, these sweeteners contribute to health-focused products, such as Citracal Maximum Plus D, appealing to consumers seeking both flavor and nutritional benefits.