GNT set for IFT First event after expanding global operations
GNT recently opened new facilities in China, and will be continuing its global operations, including exhibiting at IFT First in Chicago next month. Pic: GNT
Plant-based natural food colouring group, GNT is set to showcase its latest innovations at the IFT First event in Chicago, US, focused on an innovative Graze the Gradient, chef-crafted bites initiative, writes Neill Barston.
The company has continued to evolve its core Exberry system since its development in the late 1970s, with consumers increasingly focused on enjoying clean-label product ranges.
This was especially evident at this year’s ISM event in Cologne, which saw the business showcased an expanded range of colouring options across its portfolio, as part of the event’s newly formed ingredients segment to the longstanding event.
Notably, as our title has previously covered, the GNT series of colors are all made from non-GMO fruits, vegetables, and plants. They can deliver a complete spectrum of shades in most food and drink applications but require careful selection and formulation to ensure optimal results.
As for IFT First, the company will be on hand with its product specialists offering key advice, exhibiting at booth #1635, and its latest venture aims to offer a colorful snacking experience featuring four composed snack pairings designed to demonstrate how color can influence expectations, create contrast, and elevate familiar formats.
In addition, as the business explained, its latest innovation is born of the fact that there remains significant opportunities for companies in how they approach overall product development in regard to colours. This, as previously reported, is particularly significant in the US, which is seeing a strong government-led drive away from synthetic dyes and artificial colouring, gradually bringing the region more in line with European standards.
Alice Lee, Technical Marketing Manager at GNT USA, noted: “The industry is moving into a new phase now where color is designed earlier in development to ensure it supports not only technical requirements but also bold color innovation. GNT can help brands get the best out of natural colors, delivering results that combine clean labels with powerful visual impact.”
Moreover, as the company explained, its latest colour combinations to be exhibited at IFT, explore global flavour inspiration, seasonal ingredients, and unexpected visual contrast across savory and sweet applications. They include the following:
Buffalo Blue: Bold, red wing-seasoned potato chips with a whipped, blue-colored cheese dip, Blood Orange Berbere Caramel: Bright pink shortbread bites served with a blood orange berbere caramel dip, Allium Bloom: Violet chive blossom-seasoned potato chips alongside a new take on classic French onion dip, and finally, Golden Aji Hummus: Carrot crackers paired with an aji amarillo hummus dip that brings fruit-forward heat and golden color to classic hummus
Together, the concepts demonstrate how Exberry can help developers move beyond replacement-driven reformulation and think more intentionally about the role color plays in the finished product experience.
The booth will also showcase colorful products across bakery, confectionery, and snacks, including gummies colored with EXBERRY® for attendees to sample.
Jeannette O’Brien, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at GNT USA, commented: “As brands across the U.S. move away from synthetic dyes, natural color innovation is becoming a key point of differentiation,”
“It’s not just about meeting expectations anymore. It’s about using color intentionally to shape how products are perceived and ensure they stand out in a crowded market.”
China office opening
In other recent company news, GNT has just opened a sales and application office in Shanghai to meet demand for plant-based Exberry colors in China, further expanding its presence in the region.
As the company noted, under the nation’s new official industry standard, these concentrates are classified as Coloring Foods and qualify for clean and clear label declarations such as “carrot coloring ingredient.”
GNT has now opened its first dedicated office in China to help the country’s food and beverages manufacturers create more natural products.
The application laboratory will enable GNT to offer Chinese customers faster and highly tailored application support. It will provide a space for customer training sessions and workshops as well as services including concept innovation, formulation support, and stability testing.
Andreas Thiede, General Manager APAC at GNT Group, said: “Together, this office and application lab demonstrate our commitment and long-term strategic growth ambition in China.”
He added: “China is a dynamic market, with strong momentum behind natural and clean-label food and beverage products. Customers here move fast – and they expect partners to be able to move with them. Now, with a local team in place, we can support this growth with faster decisions, closer collaboration, and tailored solutions.”
