(Food-Beverage-News.Com, January 11, 2017 ) Polyols are defined as sugar-free sweeteners, which are used in the same amount as sugar is used in food and beverage products. The chemical structure of polyols is partially sugar and alcohol thus, called as sugar alcohols. Different polyols available for use in food and beverage products include erythritol, sorbitol, maltitol, isomalt and others. Owing to demand for low calorie food and beverage products among consumers to overcome obesity, weight management and type-2 diabetes, the polyols market is predicted to witness significant growth in next five to six years.
Also, benefits such as non-cariogenic nature, low insulin level for metabolism, less energy utilization and others have led manufactures adoption towards polyols as a replacement with sugar in the food and beverage products. Application of polyols as blends in food and beverage products, resulting in improved taste and stability is predicted to increase usage of polyols in food products. In addition, blending polyols offers flexibility to food manufacturers to take each sweetener’s individual taste in the food product.
The global polyols market is segmented on the basis of polyols type, application and regions. The polyols segmentation includes erythritol, sorbitol, maltitol, isomalt and others. Among, all the polyols type, sorbitol is expected to witness considerable growth in the near future. This is primarily attributed to versatility, low caloric value and other health benefits resulting in low fat or calories.
On the basis of application, polyols market is segmented into food and beverage, pharmaceutical and personal care. In addition, food segment is further sub-segmented into candies, frozen desserts, syrups, cookies and others. Pharmaceutical sub-segmentation includes breath mints, cough medicines and chewing gum. Personal care is sub-segmented into mouthwash and toothpaste, perfumes, make-up, deodorants and lotions.
On the basis of regions, the global polyols market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan and Middle East and Africa. Of which, currently North America dominates the market in terms of % share contribution. However, Asia Pacific excluding Japan and South America are expected to record high growth as compared to the other regions by 2025. This is attributed to increasing health concerns among consumers, changing lifestyle particularly in countries such as India, China and Brazil.
Consumer inclination towards low calorie food, growing health concerns and changing consumer lifestyle are key factors fuelling the global polyols market growth. In addition, increasing obesity levels and diabetes concerns among population are anticipated to drive the demand for low calorie food products, resulting in significant contribution of these products among consumes. Moreover, increasing awareness among manufacturers of processed food products regarding benefits of polyols such as suspension, thickness and stabilization offered by xanthum gum is predicted to increase uptake of polyols in food and beverage products.
Although, raw material availability in developing regions is restraining the market growth; strategic alliances among players in the global polyols market is expected to increase the growth in the near future. There are numerous benefits associated with application of polyols in food and beverage products, regulatory approvals is a major factor hampering the complete use of all polyols in food and beverage products.
Polyols Market Key Players
Some of the prominent players operating in the global polyols market include Mitsubishi-Kagaku Foods, Cargill Inc., Jungbunzlauer Suisse AG, Ecogreen Oleochemicals Gmbh, American International Foods and Archer Daniels Midland among others.
