SupplySide West 2024: TopGum to debut honey-based prebiotic gummy supplements

Gummy supplement manufacturer TopGum launches its clean label HoneyGum functional gummies with pure liquid honey and natural wellness ingredients. Eyal Shohat, the company’s CEO, discusses the product formulation and emerging consumer interest in honey as a natural ingredient in supplements.

“Most of the gummies on the market that contain honey use the powdered form. However, when honey is dried, additional ingredients, such as sugars and starches, are added. By using liquid honey, we avoid those unnecessary additives and create a better-for-you gummy,” Shohat tells Nutrition Insight.

“For the first time, TopGum was able to use pure liquid honey and maintain its health benefits. Honey is a natural sweetening agent. In addition to its natural sweetener properties, it has been shown to contain levels of prebiotic fibers,” he further details.

TopGum will showcase HoneyGum at booth #5647 of the upcoming SupplySide West trade show alongside many of its other products.

A revived interest

The company notes that honey is enjoying a revival in popularity as an ingredient for the supplement market. 

“Consumers are increasingly seeking natural ingredients in their nutrition, and the supplements category acts no differently, reflecting a broader trend. You may even call it a renaissance,” Shohat argues.

“As consumers prioritize transparency and efficacy, they are drawn to products that blend modern science with time-tested natural solutions,” he continues. “They are also looking for natural products without additives that can help them to live better and fit their active lifestyle.”

“Honey is one of the most ancient foods, and if consumers are going to consume sugars, they are looking for them to be more natural and with health benefits.”

Discussing what current consumer trends HoneyGum responds to, he points out that “almost all the global population falls short on micronutrient intake.”

“As a result, the supplement category is growing worldwide, and consumers are looking for more approachable and convenient ways to take their supplements. They seek new delivery systems that are fun and tasty and HoneyGum absolutely answers to this trend.” 

The product is presented in a hexagonal shape inspired by that of honeycombs and aims for tactile and visual appeal.

A prebiotic fiber mix

HoneyGum is formulated through the combining of pure liquid honey with the company’s patented, fiber-based prebiotic gummy matrix. As a result of this process, the product offers the prebiotic benefits of fructo-oligosaccharides. 

Honey has natural sweetener properties and has been shown to contain levels of prebiotic fiber.Shohat explains: “The prebiotic dietary fibers in the gummy are its base. With TopGum’s technology, we can create a gummy that contains less sugar than conventional gummies. These prebiotic fibers support healthy digestion by providing food for the beneficial bacteria naturally present in the digestive tract.”

Jennifer Toomey, TopGum’s head of new product development for the US, adds: “Combining liquid honey into a stable gummy matrix in a way that hits the right texture and flavor notes is a complex process.”

“It was important for us to showcase the benefits of honey without the unnecessary additives that can come with a dry or powdered ingredient. With flavors such as lemon chamomile, mixed berries and tangerine, these gummies are not merely wellness-supporting supplements — they’re all-natural treats.”

Product formulations

TopGum includes five functional gummies targeting specific health categories. Of these, Honey Sleep Relaxation features honey with chamomile extract, GABA, L-theanine, and valerian. It comes in a lemon-chamomile flavor and it was designed to promote restful sleep.

Honey Immune offers honey, elderberry, vitamin D (1000IU) and other vitamins and has a mixed-berry flavor, while Honey Immune Ginger combines ginger, propolis and honey with an apple flavor.

The honey in the Honey Energy gummy offers B vitamins and caffeine in a tangerine flavor.

All four of these types feature 500 mg of honey, while the High-Dose Honey presents the highest amount of honey in a single gummy. It targets the beauty-from-within category as it is enriched with biotin.

“We are committed to creating new delivery systems that can give a full sensory experience of texture, color and taste without compromising on additives that are commonly used in gummies,” Shohat concludes.