Del Monte Corporation is partnering with Treatt to offer real fruit extracts for use in beverage applications, as part of a new ingredients partnership. The range of real fruit extracts includes pineapple, watermelon, mango, and cantaloupe.
These extracts are upcycled using portions of fruit that don’t make it to finished fresh-cut products. The partnership aims to provide beverage makers with a clean-label ingredient solution, as consumers increasingly look for better-for-you options that don’t appear overly processed.
Expanding Revenue Streams
Del Monte is exploring more stable sources of revenue, with agricultural operations under pressure from the Iran war and other geopolitical pressures. The company is charting new growth following the purchase of Del Monte Foods, which brought its fresh and canned fruit operations back under one owner for the first time in nearly four decades.
The addition of the canned food business is expected to generate stronger cash generation, as the fresh segment is expected to underperform, according to the company’s full year guidance. Deema Anani, chief commercial officer of Del Monte’s specialty ingredients division, said in a statement that the company is continuously exploring new ways to maximize the value of every fruit it grows and sources.
Specialty Ingredients Division
Del Monte entered the ingredients space in 2024 with the creation of a specialty ingredients division focused on clean-label options that resonate with health-conscious consumers. The division aims to help Del Monte drive sustainability goals by ensuring nothing is wasted during the manufacturing process and turning unused products into high-value ingredients.
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The partnership with Treatt uses the ingredient supplier’s extraction process to capture real fruit flavors while delivering consistency and performance within beverages. Treatt offers a variety of clean-label ingredients for the food and beverage industry, including a range of botanicals, citrus, and fruit flavors that can be used in various applications.
As sustainability increasingly becomes part of clean-label credentials, the partnership’s use of upcycled fruit gives Del Monte and Treatt’s ingredients range an edge against competitors. Emma Bowles said in a statement that consumers increasingly expect beverages to deliver authentic taste, recognizable ingredients, and stronger sustainability credentials.
Industry Trends
Other companies have been exploring how to use real fruit within food and beverage applications. For instance, Babybel owner Bel Brands partnered with Foodberry in January to develop new snacks using the tech company’s plant-based coatings made from real fruit.
The partnership between Del Monte and Treatt is a significant development in the ingredients industry, as it combines the company’s expertise in fruit production with Treatt’s knowledge of natural extraction and ingredient development. The result is a range of high-quality, clean-label ingredients that can help beverage manufacturers create products that meet the evolving demands of consumers.