Global ingredient and service solution provider Glanbia Nutritionals is investing €1.4 million (US$1.6 million) to upgrade its R&D facility in Kilkenny, Ireland. The expanded site will be opening its doors for operation in Q3 of next year.

The supplier stresses that the new technology and equipment at the facility will support the ideation and creation of F&B solutions for bars, snacks, beverages, baked goods and more for the European drink industry.

This announcement follows Glanbia’s positive financial year performance, with the company reporting an EBITA pre-exceptional of €69.7 million (US$78.8 million) at HY 2021, up 17.1% constant currency on the prior HY (up 6.6% reported).

Streamlined prototyping
The upgraded site aims to encourage more face-to-face customer interactions and meetings, supporting a rapid development process and delivering efficient prototyping. This will ultimately offer a swift route to market for brands creating new products, Glanbia highlights.

Increased customer collaboration will be supported by an investment in new equipment including bar and beverage processing technology, the company notes.

Amid shifting meal occasions during the pandemic, snacking is on the rise.“This new, enhanced R&D facility will allow our teams to better deliver innovative solutions to our EMEA-based food and beverage, lifestyle and nutrition brand customers as a key part of our market strategy in the region,” remarks Glanbia’s CEO Brian Phelan.

Market-driving trends
Global rates of snacking are on the rise, evidenced by Glanbia statistics. According to the data, several factors contribute to this surge, including cultural shifts, more regular eating during the COVID-19 pandemic and the upending of conventional meal occasions.

In particular, 33% of UK consumers who snack have admitted to eating more when working from home.

Low calorie and high protein claims in snacks are especially high priorities for Millennials and Gen Z. Among beverage trends, as many as a third of consumers aged 18-25 say they never consume alcohol, according to recent analysis from Innova Market Insights.

“The nutritional sector is increasingly competitive, so we wanted to ensure that we continue to offer first-class equipment to match the top quality expertise, consumer insights and operational knowledge that our customers have come to expect from Glanbia Nutritionals,” says Phelan.

Craving better-for-you
According to Glanbia, 51% of global consumers have switched from traditional snack products, like chocolate, to high protein or low sugar alternatives. 

The move to better-for-you and functional snacking has caused new ingredients – like seaweed – to come under the spotlight for their nutritional potential.

Innova Market Insights reports that snack launches with seaweed as an ingredient have seen a CAGR of 16 percent from 2016 to 2020. Some of the most popular health positionings include No Additives/Preservatives and GMO-Free.