For some, this means promoting dairy as the best alternative. For others, it means getting in on the act by acquiring companies that cater to the dairy alternative market, such as Danone did with its takeover of WhiteWave.
Other companies develop vegan ingredients, or their own line of vegan alternatives, such as Italian dairy company Granarolo, which had its vegan range on display at Anuga.
At the recent Anuga show in Cologne, Germany, a separate Vegan Products publication was available for visitors – the 120-page brochure was filled with hundreds of companies exhibiting at the event with some connection to the trend, presentations on the vegan lifestyle, as well as promotion of the Veganfach event being held at the same venue, in November.
Adding to existing options
Among the companies exhibiting new vegan products at Anuga was German company, Prolupin.
While soy dairy alternatives have been around for decades, new plant sources have entered the shelves: almond, coconut, hemp, flax, rice, potato, oat and others.
And the list also includes lupin, a mostly perennial flowering plant that has been utilized for food for centuries, but which has only recently found its way back into favor, and now, is being used in beverages and ice cream by Prolupin.
The award-winning company separates various fractions from the lupin seeds.
The most valuable is Lupine Protein Isolate (LPI), which contains more than 90% protein in the dry matter.
Fibers from the inner most fiber of the seed are another fraction, which can be used to enrich the roughage content of food.
Benefits
According to Prolupin, adding lupin ingredients can improve the final product of some food.
Lupin can stabilize fat in the final product and enhance the emulsion capacity, as well as reducing losses in blanching, boiling or cooking. Lupin ingredients bind water and reduce losses of water, and improve the storekeeping of bakery goods.
As well as being used as an ingredient, Prolupin has its own product, Luve, a series of plant-based beverages and ice cream that are vegan, free from GMO, lactose and cholesterol.