Eybna and Gat Foods develop functional terpene beverages amid rising demand for functional ingredients
23 Nov 2021 --- International technology company specializing in botanical medicine Eybna is teaming up with Gat Foods, a part of Israeli CBC Group beverage company, to develop functional beverages featuring terpene formulations to achieve specific physiological effects.
Through this partnership, CBC Group will strengthen its position in the global wellness market, utilizing Eybna’s data-driven functional formulations as the CBC Group will utilize Eybna’s R&D specialty.
This partnership comes at a time when the global functional beverage market size is estimated at US$108 billion for 2020 and is expected to reach US$120 billion this year. The company adds that according to the research and market October 2021 report, the sector is projected to be worth US$198 billion by 2026.
“This agreement with Gat Foods is just the beginning, as it allows both companies to engineer a new category of functional beverages and be at the forefront of this fast-paced market movement,” says Nadav Eyal, CEO and co-founder of Eybna.
“Consumers are seeking functional beverages that can have a positive impact on their lifestyles and, more importantly, that are made with all-natural compounds, are safe and play a key role in the organic trend,” adds Shachar Shaine, CEO of Gat Foods.
Receptor Specific Line
The collaboration follows the successful launch of Eybna’s new Receptor Specific Line, which presents botanical formulations that culminate nearly a decade of scientific research and biological data analysis.
Each formulation comprises specific active compounds that synergistically activate receptors within the body’s biological systems. It is designed to meet in-demand consumer wellness needs such as focus, sleep, anxiety, pain, inflammation and mood management.
The Receptor Specific Line allows brands to develop custom formulations that match whole-plant qualities to the brand’s oil-based product needs. The terpene formulation is based on a brand-specific strain analysis or created from scratch according to the brand’s needs and product statement.
This collaboration marks Eybna’s position as a leading terpene technology company.
The demand for functional health
Eybna highlights a consumer insights report that found that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many US consumers are shifting their priorities to focus on better managing their stress levels.
The report details that health concerns have led many to seek ways to increase their overall well-being. Functional ingredients and consumer products continued to rise, and 2021 saw accelerated growth among key ingredients like ashwagandha and L-theanine.
Additionally, a growing number of US consumers feel that “functional foods can replace some traditional medicines,” continuing shifts toward alternative medicine and alternative therapies among those seeking natural ways to fuel their bodies.
FIfty-six percent of US citizens agree that functional F&B can be substituted for some medicines, while 65% of consumers with the highest stress levels are using less traditional medicine.
The functional foods consumers are tapping into target gut health and the immune system. Functional ingredients such as adaptogens and probiotics offer consumers the power to impact their overall health. Products that feature these types of functional ingredients saw the most significant increases among products in the report.
Functional beverages in the spotlight
As consumer demand for functional beverages rises, industry players have been developing products that meet this demand.
Previously, ADM spotlighted the five consumer shifts for holistic self-care as consumers took a proactive approach to their well-being with functional nutrition.
Also, Kerry stated that the COVID-19 pandemic had increased beverages with added health benefits into the spotlight. Meanwhile, Givaudan unveiled an ashwagandha infusion that enables easier formulation into functional F&B with improved solubility and taste.
By Nicole Kerr
