IGD launches free reformulation workshops

27-Apr-2017 - Last updated on 28-Apr-2017 at 10:26 GMT

IGD's workshops are designed to help manufacturers looking to reformulate their products, including cutting sugar

Food and drink manufacturers looking to reformulate their products are set to receive a helping hand, thanks to new workshops organised by grocery think-tank IGD.

The free workshops aim to guide manufacturers in reformulating, without changing the taste of their products and potentially losing customers.

They come as new research from IGD revealed that 70% of UK shoppers were happy for manufacturers to change their products to make them healthier, provided it didn’t jeopardise the taste.

IGD strategy and innovation director Jon Wolven said nearly two thirds of food and drink businesses canvassed by the think-tank have started to reformulate products. However, many were far from completing the reformulation.

‘Feedback from their customers’

“Some 83% said they have received positive feedback from their customers about reformulation, suggesting the benefits outweigh the risks,” said Wolven. “We want to help other companies who are perhaps concerned about the impact of reformulating or just do not know where to start their journey.

“The big question is how do you reformulate products while still keeping the same delicious taste? Our workshops will help attendees answer this question, sharing success stories and the obstacles companies have overcome.”

Each workshop will be co-hosted by a well-known retailer, that will present on its own reformulation activities. Among the retailers taking part will be Morrisons, Sainsbury, Waitrose and Co-op. See the box below for the times, dates and locations of each workshop.

More than 180,000 consumer goods were reformulated in 2016, according to a global report by the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF).

Sugar and sodium the most targeted for removal

CGF’s Health & Wellness Progress Report found that sugar and sodium (salt) were the most targeted for removal by the food and drink industry, while wholegrains and vitamins were the most common nutrients to be added to products.

You can register your interest on IGD’s website.

Meanwhile, parliament this week approved the soft drinks industry levy – a move greeted by both praise and condemnation.

Pressure group Action on Sugar supported the tax, while the British Soft Drinks Association and the Food and Drink Federation maintained their long-standing opposition to the move.