The humble gummy bear is perhaps the most popular form of gummy confectionery, dating back to 1920 when it was created by German entrepreneur, Hans Rigel. He was inspired by European dancing bears and consequentially created the world-famous candy brand Haribo.
Nearly 80 years later, Hero Nutraceuticals were influenced by this shape, creating the industry’s first functional gummies with their Yummi Bears range back in 1997.
In the forecast period of 2023-2033, the global gummy market has a predicted CAGR of 11.8%. It’s no surprise really, considering the format can tap into a broad range of industries – gaming, beauty, nutraceutical, confectionery, and more.
Functional gummies can be made in a variety of colours, shapes, textures, and endless combinations of flavours. These fun formats excite younger generations by bridging the gap between pharmaceutical and confectionery, while also targeting the older generation who may have issues taking conventional supplements.
Today’s health-conscious consumers are looking for preventative solutions to maintain their wellbeing, rather than taking reactive measure once they are already sick.
Some creative ideas from our NPD Team
- A tangy tropical gummy with zinc to aid with immunity
- A brain-enhancing lion’s mane gummy with watermelon flavouring
- An apple flavoured ashwagandha gummy for better sleep
Our NPD team recently spent two days with confectionery consultant Andy Baxendale, learning about different gelling agents in gummies and the impact these have on flavour release.
With over 30 years’ experience in the flavour and encapsulation industry, TasteTech can help you achieve your perfect gummy formulation that is shelf stable and packs a punch on taste. Whether you’re looking for strawberry or guava, our NPD team can recommend the perfect flavour at the correct dosage. Each of our flavours is accompanied by a set of detailed descriptors allowing you to differentiate, for example, a green strawberry from a jammy strawberry.
In addition to a huge catalogue of flavours, TasteTech can also provide you with a range of encapsulated acids to prevent the sugar in the formulation from inverting. Inversion turns the outside of the gummy sticky and decreasing the shelf life of the product.
Find out more about our confectionery acids here.
