According to Mintel, a significant 84% of American consumers are actively reducing their sugar intake. This shift has led to a growing demand for alternative sweeteners, with stevia showing the fastest growth in this category last year. Additionally, sales of other natural sweeteners, both caloric and low-calorie, such as agave syrup, honey, and monk fruit, are also increasing. However, manufacturers face taste challenges with stevia and monk fruit, prompting several companies to create blends of the two to address bitterness issues. Early adopters included Chobani, which launched its Simply 100 Greek yogurt line in 2013 featuring a stevia-monk fruit blend. That same year, Zeferrous also revamped its stevia-sweetened soda to incorporate monk fruit extract.
GLG Life Tech has taken a unique approach, initially focusing solely on stevia extracts until 2014, when it expanded into the monk fruit market as more companies began to combine the two sweeteners. Last year, GLG partnered with MycoTechnology, a Colorado-based company, to leverage the bitter-blocking properties of mushroom mycelium in its stevia and monk fruit products. This partnership allows ADM to enhance its offerings with this innovative technology. MycoTech’s certified organic ClearTaste powder provides a clean label advantage, allowing it to be listed as ‘natural flavor(ing)’ or ‘natural flavor enhancer’ on ingredient labels.
Monk fruit extracts typically come at a higher cost than stevia extracts, but their distinct taste profile can make them a more appealing choice for manufacturers, depending on the final product’s flavors. In June, ADM announced its collaboration with GLG Life Tech to become the exclusive distributor and marketer of its low-calorie stevia and monk fruit sweeteners. This partnership helps to diversify ADM’s global low-calorie sweetener portfolio, which already includes VivaSweet sucralose. As consumers continue to seek out healthier options, the inclusion of sweeteners that meet their needs, alongside products like generic calcium citrate with vitamin D, is becoming increasingly important in the market. The growing interest in low-calorie alternatives reflects a broader trend toward healthier eating habits, which will likely continue to shape the industry.