Luker Chocolate expands with new Oat M!lk no added sugar couverture
Colombian chocolate manufacturer, Luker Chocolate has expanded its premium range of confectionery products with a new choco Oat M!lk 43% no added sugar couverture, writes Neill Barston.
The business, which played a notable role at the last edition of our World Confectionery Conference, has continued to expand its portfolio into the vegan-friendly and gluten-free market, with its latest offering aimed at companies seeking to move into the better-for-you product space.
As attendees at our event in September discovered, the business-to-business supplier has prided itself on its ethically-minded sourcing polices, which include a mixture of maintaining its own plantations in Colombia, as well as sourcing responsibly from local farmers across its native country. You can see our recent video with the company’s European sales manager, Paul Morris, here.
According to the company, the new low sugar plant-based chocolate couverture is the newest creation in Luker’s signature Balance line, and uses a blend of Erythritol and Stevia as low-calorie sweetener alternatives to refined sugar.
Significantly, the company added that it believes that creating a product that’s better for your health and the planet shouldn’t mean consumers must sacrifice taste. Using high quality ingredients, the couverture maintains Luker’s signature oat milk chocolate cereal and nutty flavour, with a smooth and creamy texture. Combining the needs of both plant-based and health-conscious consumers, this product is also made with the highest quality Cacao Fino de Aroma.
Furthermore, the new addition to Luker’s vegan-friendly portfolio, responds to a growing demand for innovation in the plant-based spectrum. It’s clear that the plant-based market is growing. According to Future Market Insights, the global plant-based market is set to rise 15.5% to $4 billion in the next ten years. Plant-based oat milk emits the lowest amount of carbon during production, compared with both cow’s milk and other milk alternatives, e.g. soy.
Consumers are also buying more products that have a reduced sugar content. According to Grand View Research, the global reduced sugar food & beverages market size was valued at USD 46.18 billion in 2021 and is expected to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9% from 2022 to 2030. The snacks segment is forecast to grow with the fastest CAGR of 10.2% over the forecast period. Tapping into this need, a no-added sugar alternative is perfect for those looking to reduce sugar intake in their diet.
Daniela Quintero, Director of Product Design and Development at Luker Chocolate said: “We’re seeing various subcategories within the plant-based sector emerge, as consumers seek out more options to suit different diets and health requirements. Last year, our product development research led to the development of 70% Dark and 40% milk no-added sugar couvertures using Erythritol and Stevia, incorporating Luker’s Cacao Fino de Aroma signature flavour. We were keen to combine this with our best-selling Oat M!lk 43% couverture, to develop a product that is perfect for brands looking to appeal to a wider audience.”