As the food production industry strives to meet evolving consumer demands, specialty white oil supply will become increasingly critical.
The global food market is expected to grow from about $2.3B in 2021 to nearly $5.2B by 2029, more than doubling in size.
This growth will be driven by several shifts in consumer behaviors and expectations around health and environmental sustainability.
And a key ingredient in all this will be highly refined, food-grade white oil. Food producers will see this decade of growth tied to the strength of their specialty white oil supply partnerships.
4 White Oil Supply-Dependant Trends in Food
The food and beverage industry is watching many trends. Below are four of the most prominent trends in which winning and securing market share will require strategic partnerships with versatile white oil suppliers.
1. Safety and quality labeling.
Many consumers are hyper-aware of the dangers of consuming foods that may have been inappropriately handled in production. Though cases are statistically few, recalls on meats, eggs, fruits, and vegetables (such as romaine lettuce) create the perception of danger.
In response, consumers want to better understand where their food comes from. The savviest do their research. Many simply pay close attention to labels that indicate food is fresh and safe:
“When asked what information consumers “expect” to be on labels, nearly 60% indicated that they want information that ensures the product is fresh, and 54% want information that ensures the product is safe.” – Maeve Webster, President of Menu Matters
This makes it more important than ever, and valuable from a marketing standpoint, for food producers to work with white oil supply chain partners certified in food safety. Certifications such as Safe Quality Food (SQF) and Kosher are labels that give consumers confidence.
2. Functional foods.
Another trend is the increased interest in foods and food additives that are meant to boost health. Probiotics, for example, have become a sought-after ingredient in a variety of foods from yogurt to bread.
Any perception that food may have been mishandled in production, or may contain ingredients that could have adverse effects on health, will harm these health-focused brands.
Again, working with SQF-certified white oil supply partners is essential. Brands can ensure the safe production and packaging of food products through the use of highly refined food-grade white oils and isoparaffins.
Bread is a common example. Food-grade white oil is often used to help divide the dough and as a release agent to aid the transfer of loaves into and out of bread pans. As in any case where small amounts of oil may be ingested, only rigorously tested, FDA-approved products should be used.
3. Sustainable products.
Consumer interest in environmental sustainability is one of the driving factors behind the rise of organic farming. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations provides this summary of the connection between sustainability and organic farming:
“Organic agriculture considers the medium- and long-term effect of agricultural interventions on the agro-ecosystem. It aims to produce food while establishing an ecological balance to prevent soil fertility or pest problems. Organic agriculture takes a proactive approach as opposed to treating problems after they emerge.”
Proactive, eco-friendly pest prevention is the philosophy behind agricultural spray oil, a white oil that coats plants to suffocate mites, ticks, and other pests rather than kill them with the use of harmful chemicals.
To capitalize on this trend, organic farmers will need to work with white oil supply partners that can provide them with highly effective OMRI-Listed agricultural spray oils that are certified for use in organic farming operations.
4. Plant-based foods.
Once confined to the vegetarian segment of consumers, plant-based meat substitutes have become mainstream. Demand has been driven by the perceived health benefits and consumer concerns about the humane treatment of animals.
This trend is creating an incentive for farmers to increase plant production and potentially decrease livestock production. Farm operators that seek to capitalize on this trend will need to increase investments in products to support the transition, including a variety of agricultural oils.
They will need the support of white oil supply partners to access products formulated for grain silo de-dusting and pest prevention (see #3 above), among other applications.
