Kerry releases Big Train dairy-free beverage mixes fortified with BC30 probiotic

09 Jul 2021 --- Global taste and nutrition heavyweight Kerry has released new dairy-free flavors fortified with probiotics in its Big Train line of beverage mixes for foodservice.

The four flavors – horchata, caramel latte, latte and mocha – are positioned to meet demand for functional benefits with indulgent hot and cold drink options.

“We are seeing a real innovation opportunity in the plant-based and dairy-alternative space,” John Quilter, vice president of global portfolio – ProActive Health, tells NutritionInsight. 

“Formulating plant-derived dairy with science-backed probiotics can help bring additional nutritional benefits consumers want most, like supporting digestive health and a healthy immune system.”

The mixes contain Kerry’s BC30 probiotic (formerly GanedenBC30) – a probiotic ingredient demonstrated to support digestive and immune health. 

BC30 is a spore-forming probiotic, meaning that the strain has superior survivability, not only during manufacturing and production but also the transit through the stomach into the intestines. 

The new dairy-free beverage flavors enable consumers to indulge in coffee beverages with probiotic benefits.  Permissible indulgence
Quilter adds that dairy-alternative products can help foodservice brands differentiate themselves from competitors.

“With Kerry’s research showing that 63 percent of consumers are actively trying to eat healthfully some or all of the time, purchasing Big Train non-dairy beverages will leave consumers feeling they’ve made a healthier choice without sacrificing taste or enjoyment,” says Abhishek Trivedi, strategic marketing director for Big Train.  

Big Train is a manufacturer and distributor of premium, powdered gourmet beverage mixes that are easy to prepare. Its collection includes blended ice coffees, coffee-free blended cremes, chai teas, protein coffee mixes and the new dairy-free mixes. All are permissible indulgence products that consumers both crave and appreciate.

The new dairy-free beverage mixes enable consumers who do not consume milk products to indulge in the frappe, mocha, steamer, chai or latte choice. 

“These new drink offerings will help foodservice operators meet the growing consumer demand for products promoting digestive health, while simultaneously expanding the great taste experiences,” adds Trivedi.

Meeting demand for foodservice
The new range addresses a gap in the foodservice market unveiled by Kerry’s proprietary consumer research. 

With immune health the top benefit global consumers are seeking in healthy lifestyle products, 78 percent of those surveyed by Kerry say restaurants are failing to offer enough menu choices that feature functional benefits. 

In addition, the research shows that 70 percent or more of these consumers are actively concerned about their digestive health.

Moreover, Kerry found the BC30 brand to be trusted by consumers. More than half of consumers surveyed perceived BC30 to support digestive health merely from seeing the logo. 

BC30 is a spore-forming probiotic, which can be added to hot beverages without compromising efficacy. Trusted ingredients
BC30 is backed by more than 25 published scientific papers demonstrating its safety and efficacy. 

The credibility of BC30’s extensive studies has led to 81 percent of US consumers believing the probiotic claim to be trustworthy, with 63 percent expressing interest in purchasing a product into which it is incorporated.

“BC30 has GRAS status in the US, indicating an excellent safety record,” adds Quilter.  

Label appeal
The BC30 probiotic can display a number of claims that consumers look for. It is vegan, gluten-free, allergen-free, and available in non-GMO Project Verified and organic-compliant versions. 

Health claims can be made on the drink mixes according to local regulations. In the US, for example, Quilter explains that some appropriate statements might be BC30 has been shown to:

• Support immune health (at 500 million CFUs per day).
• Support digestive health (at 1 billion CFUs per day).
• May support protein utilization (at 1 billion CFUs per day).

Opportunities ahead
While immunity and digestive health have been major trends in recent launches of functional foods, Quilter cites “protein utilization” as one that can gain ground, particularly with older consumers. 

“Since the rate of protein absorption can decline with age, supporting protein absorption – one of the benefits of BC30 – may be a particularly attractive benefit for seniors.”

In other moves in immunity-boosting hot drinks, DaVinci Gourmet rolled out a functional coffee syrup containing Kerry’s baker’s yeast beta 1.3/1.6 glucan Wellmune this January. 

Last month, Quilter flagged the blurred lines between foods and supplements as consumers have become increasingly concerned about overall wellness. 

By Missy Green, with additional reporting by Kristiana Lalou