Demand for cranberries is enjoying a sustained growth worldwide. The mighty cranberry is taking both developed and emerging markets by storm and here we give you a snapshot of the latest food trends on the internation al cranberry scene.

 Success down under

Australian manufacturers are adding the sweet and tart flavor of cranberries to healthy food products, such as cereal and yogurt, as a way of stepping onto a higher health platform. For example, one manufacturer has recently unveiled a new low calorie cranberry and raspberry jelly, tapping into consumer demand for guilt-free snacking. Australia is also one of the most innovative regions for snack bars and represents strong potential for manufacturers looking to experiment with emerging trends¹ .

 On the Continent

In 2011, 36 new bakery applications containing cranberries were launched on the continent². European manufacturers continue using cranberry ingredients, such as sweetened dried cranberries and BerryFusion^® Fruits, in traditional classics such as  the Italian coffee biscuits, cantuccini. The German Christmas staple – a stollen – looks even more festive and appetising with soft, moist cranberry pieces. In France, whole cranberry inclusions offer an innovative twist on the traditional pain au raisin.

 Made in USA 

The growth of the native cranberry market has been inspired by a fusion of rich US heritage and bold innovation, with Thanksgiving turkey accompanied by tangy cranberry mayonnaise and New York bagels served with cranberry-flavoured cream cheese, illustrating two of the top trends. In 2011, the US saw the biggest growth in the snack bar sector, bringing 22 new cranberry products to life³. The highlights of the past year include flavored energy cereal bars and new on-the-go breakfast snack varieties.

New markets

Asia and Mexico are still emerging markets in terms of cranberry demand, but we expect strong growth in sales and awareness of cranberry products in these regions over the coming year. Mexico, in particular, has demonstrated enormous potential as healthy snacking continues to drive the popularity of sweetened dried cranberries. Asia Pacific has seen a considerable NPD growth in 2011, and among the new cranberry product launches are 27 bakery applications, 50 beverages and 26 cereal/energy bar products⁴.

The future’s bright

We look forward to seeing more interesting uses of our cranberry ingredients in 2012 and beyond.