TopGum Industries has invested US$30 million in the construction of a gummy supplement facility. Construction is already underway for the 11,000 square meter facility expected to triple the company’s production capacity.

The new facility will adjoin the company’s existing production plant, based in southern Israel. It is expected to be fully operational by mid-2023.

“The company is working on several projects targeting the functionality of gummy supplements. In addition, we are in a process to introduce these delivery forms to new markets, with different regulation requirements,” Amichai Bar-Nir, chief executive officer for TopGum, tells FoodIngredientsFirst.

The main areas of advancement include flavor qualities, higher doses of active ingredients and improved shelf life.

TopGum is also introducing “special ingredients” that could not be implemented previously with the available infrastructure. 

Automated production line
The new facility will use automated systems and robotics across the production line. The technology will meet US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulations.  

“This new facility will allow us to meet the demand of our international customers and to provide the highest quality of supplement gummies. We are recruiting the best minds from the international food tech industry to support the existing innovative R&D projects in our fast expanding company,” says Bar-Nir.

TopGum launched its functional gummy supplements portfolio in 2019 and is now active in more than 20 countries. The company will continue to channel investment in manufacturing and packaging infrastructure and automation systems into improving production efficiency.

Sugar reductionThe facility will use robotics across the production line. 
An Innova Market Insights’ analysis reveals that 91% of consumers are “at least a little” influenced by sugar reduction claims. Strategies in this context vary and include complete removal of sugar, blending of sugar with sweeteners and advances in sugar science.

Efforts to reduce sugar levels are ongoing, reflecting the link to dental caries and the view that high sugar consumption is the cause of weight gain, diabetes and hyperactivity in children. Four in ten consumers in Innova’s global Health and Nutrition Survey in 2020 said they decreased their sugar consumption over 12 months. 

Last year, TopGum launched Gummiceuticals, its sugar-free vegan gummy supplement line. The formulation is based on a dietary prebiotic fiber formulation and uses no added sugars or sugar alcohols. It can be labeled as “sugar free” in the US.

“The Gummiceuticals line answers the need of many consumers who want to enjoy their supplements, but without pills or sugar-laced gummy formats,” notes Hagai Stadler, chairman of the board of TopGum. 

Sugar reduction has been identified as a primary health trend for consumers. The addition of fruits and vegetables to confectionery is adding an aura of health. As consumers seek sweetness from naturally derived sources, ingredient suppliers are offering up solutions to sugar-reduction without the addition of artificial sweeteners. 

“We are working relentlessly to develop new versions of clean label, healthy gummy formats with superior flavor,” says Bar-Nir.

Gummy NPD launches
Over the first eight months of 2021, one-quarter of vitamin and mineral launches were gummies, reports TopGum.

Gummy supplements experienced a 16% CAGR from 2016 to 2020. 

Innova Market Insights reports that the 18-25 age group prefers gummy supplements over all other supplements formats. In contrast, those between 26 and 35 prefer functional F&B and gummy supplements to classic supplement formats.