WILD offers preservative free bake-stable fillings for fruit bars

WILD has developed fillings for fruit bars which do not only taste great, but have special characteristics when being baked: they are bake-stable, which means that they maintain their consistency and do not “ bake out”.

08/09/08 Crisp snack bars filled with fruit have become increasingly popular with consumers. These bars must meet the highest standards if they are to succeed in the market. Consumers want a fruit filling that is soft in texture but encased in a nice and crispy pastry. WILD supplies the food industry with fruit fillings that are bake-stable and provide the taste that consumers want without the use of preservatives.

It is important to consumers that convenience products satisfy their hunger but they must also taste good and be healthy. Consumers are looking for products that are tailored to sports activities, promote good health and are enjoyable as a snack for break times. It is for this that fruit bars are currently very popular as a treat between meals. Responding to this trend, WILD has developed fillings for fruit bars which do not only taste great, but have special characteristics when being baked: they are bake-stable, which means that they maintain their consistency and do not “ bake out”.

In 2007 the German market for bars amounted to approximately 112 million euros. In Western Europe the market for bars is growing at an average rate of over 6 percent each year, while in Eastern Europe it is over 60 percent (Source: WILD market research). According to a report from Global Business Insights in 2007, the market for bars across Europe will be worth 2.7 billion euros by 2010.

In order to satisfy consumers’ expectations, the fruit preparation used for the filling must meet exceptionally high requirements. WILD is able to offer a solution for the technological challenge that manufacturers face when producing bars. Even after baking the bake-stable fillings will maintain their fruity taste and soft texture while the outer pastry layer stays crunchy.

Due to the high Brix levels and the low pH value, the fruit fillings do not require the addition of any preservatives, and the shelf life of these preparations in the final product is six to nine months.

In addition to the classical flavors of apple and strawberry, WILD is offering the bake-stable fillings in numerous fruit combinations. Exotic flavors such as orange-mango or passion fruit are especially trendy. WILD also supplies fillings with innovative red superfruits such as acerola that are in the focus of the health conscious consumer.