Gat Foods, a wholly owned subsidiary of Israel-based Central Bottling Company, is set to install a lab-scale extrusion plant to integrate its real-fruit based solution Fruitlift into various breakfast cereal applications.

Through its initiative, the company will assess Fruitlift’s integration into large-scale cereal production processes.

Gat Foods’ Fruitlift, which was introduced last month, has been created to replac refined sugars in ready-to-eat (RTE) cereals.

Gat Foods International marketing director Michal Katzir Emek said: “Since its launch two months ago, Fruitlift has inspired enthusiastic interest from food companies globally.

“We decided to install a full-scale pilot lab to give us more complete expertise and flexibility to better collaborate with our clients throughout the entire product development cycle, from concept through trials to the final product.

“We anticipate this will further our application of the Fruitlift solution into additional food formulations.”

The pilot plant replicates a large industrial production belt on a smaller lab scale. It incorporates a full lab-scale extrusion line, including extruder machinery, a coating drum, oven and mixers.

Additionally, the plant will feature lab equipment to assess the final products and ensure their adherence to specific product criteria.

Gat Foods technology provides a tailor-made fruit base solution to food companies.

The company noted that the fruit base solution can be injected either as a base or a coating and the dose can be adjusted to desired sweetness levels and taste preferences.

Fruitlift, which consists of natural fruity goodness, including fibres, provides a wide range of fruits and is composed of 90% fruit components in a liquid base.