TORONTO — Recently, Canadians were surveyed by Puratos Canada’s Marketing team to find out which fruit flavours were most likely to elicit a purchase when it comes to sweet goods and snacks. Surprisingly, the traditional favourites led the way.
Sliced apples topped the list with 75 per cent, while wild blueberries weren’t far behind, coming in at 72 per cent. Cherries, strawberries and raspberries also scored high marks with consumers and strawberry-rhubarb — a perennial favourite — made the top-10. Interestingly, stone fruits such as apricots and plums trailed behind the pack, as did more exotic specimens such as mangoes, pineapples and figs. If you think millennials skewed differently, think again; the demographic powerhouse also went for strawberries and apples.
Eating healthy — or at least healthier — is top of mind for many Canadians. A 2017 Nielsen survey revealed that 59 per cent of Canadian consumers try to avoid artificial flavours in food products. Coming in just behind that, 55 per cent feel the same way about artificial colours. And, a 2017 BrandSpark study shows 84 per cent believe that what they eat can actually help prevent illness.
Unfortunately, what consumers want isn’t always what the industry wants. The rigours of production, whether on a local or industrial scale, are tough on natural ingredients.
However, Puratos Canada’s new fruit filling product range aims to change the rules of the sweet goods business. After a development phase involving both Puratos’ R&D team and consumer input, Topfil emerged as a solution to everyone’s requirements.
The Topfil line uses high-quality and identifiable pieces of fruit in its ready-to-use application. By harvesting carefully selected fruits in season and processing them with care, Puratos delivers a product high in flavour and with natural texture. Topfil is bake and freeze/thaw stable and easy to work with. It is also free from high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, artificial flavours and colours.
