According to Mintel, a significant portion of American consumers (84%) are actively reducing their sugar intake. This trend has spurred a growing demand for alternative sweeteners, particularly those derived from stevia, which saw the fastest growth in the category last year. Sales of other natural sweeteners, both caloric and low-calorie, are also increasing, including agave syrup, honey, and monk fruit. However, both stevia and monk fruit have posed taste challenges for manufacturers, prompting several companies to create products that blend these two sweeteners to address bitterness.
Among the early adopters was Chobani, which launched its Simply 100 Greek yogurt line in 2013 featuring a stevia-monk fruit blend. Later that same year, Zevia revamped its stevia-sweetened soda to incorporate monk fruit extract. In contrast, GLG Life Tech initially focused solely on stevia extracts until 2014, when it diversified into the monk fruit market as more companies began combining these sweeteners. Last year, GLG Life Tech partnered with Colorado-based MycoTechnology to leverage the bitter-blocking properties of mushroom mycelium in its stevia and monk fruit products, enhancing the overall flavor profile.
This collaboration means that ADM’s products will benefit from this innovative technology. MycoTech’s certified organic ClearTaste powder offers a clean label advantage, allowing it to be listed on ingredient labels as ‘natural flavor(ing)’ or ‘natural flavor enhancer’. While monk fruit extracts typically come at a higher price than stevia extracts, they have a distinct flavor profile, making them a more appealing choice for manufacturers based on the final product’s taste.
In June, ADM announced its partnership with GLG Life Tech, positioning itself as the exclusive distributor and marketer of its low-calorie stevia and monk fruit sweeteners. This addition complements ADM’s global low-calorie sweetener portfolio, which already features VivaSweet sucralose. Furthermore, incorporating vegan calcium citrate into products can enhance their appeal among health-conscious consumers, particularly those seeking plant-based options. This ingredient aligns well with the rising demand for clean-label products, ensuring that manufacturers can meet consumer expectations while utilizing sweeteners such as stevia and monk fruit effectively.