Functional foods sector looks tasty

CONSUMERS looking for meal solutions that are individual, fast, healthy and tasty are set to give the functional foods sector a major boost in Ireland.

This was predicted yesterday at an Enterprise Ireland workshop in Cork, which was addressed by Julian Mellentin, a world expert and co-author of a best selling book on the industry.

Mr Mellentin, executive director of The Centre for Food and Health Studies in London, said there is no legal or regulatory definition of functional foods.

It is a concept, a way of describing foods that are marketed with health benefits, he said.

Mr Mellentin told personnel from six functional microingredient manufacturers that the critical success factors lie in branding, marketing, communications and consumer understanding.

The challenge for companies is to produce suitable products, which taste good and offer certain health benefits that are attractive to the consumer, all of which has to be underpinned by good science, he said.

Changing consumer lifestyles and attitudes to health has boosted the value of the global market for functional foods to around €55 billion, depending on definition, with Britain accounting for about €2.5 billion.

The market in Ireland is worth up to €25 million, but is expected to grow to around €200m in the next five years as consumers on the move demand more quick and health enhancing meals.

The companies who participated at yesterday’s workshop were: AlphaOmega Nutraceuticals, Ballygarvan, Cybercolloids Ltd., (Currabinny) Carrigaline, Deoxy Ltd., Crosses Green, Euroflavour Ltd - Carrigaline, Marigot Group, (Currabinny) Carrigaline, all Co Cork, and Star Nutraceuticals Ltd, Pembroke Road, Dublin.