{"id":403287,"date":"2026-04-29T13:11:19","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T13:11:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/403287\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T13:11:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T13:11:19","slug":"how-danone-turns-surging-demand-into-scalable-product-innovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/403287\/","title":{"rendered":"How Danone turns surging demand into scalable product innovation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fiber has moved from a nutrition afterthought to a formulation priority for F&B manufacturers, as Western consumers increasingly prioritize gut health to support their overall well-being. Food leaders like Danone view fiber as a long-term strategic ingredient, but success depends on balancing functionality, sensory performance, and scalable sourcing in fiber-enriched products.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Innova Market Insights<\/a> ranks fiber<\/a> as the second most popular functional ingredient for consumers in the US, behind protein. Around two in five say they are highly interested in fibers, signaling a strong baseline demand. Although WHO recommends<\/a> a minimum of 25 g of fiber per day, most consumers in developed markets fall significantly short, highlighting a persistent \u201cfiber gap.\u201d<\/p>\n

For manufacturers, however, meeting this demand is far from straightforward. Unlike many functional ingredients, fiber is not a simple add-in. Its behavior varies significantly depending on type, creating technical hurdles across product categories, Susan Zaripheh, chief research and innovation officer at Danone US and Canada, tells Food Ingredients First.<\/p>\n

\u201cIncorporating fiber into food formulations presents both a scientific and sensory challenge. Different types of fiber \u2014 like soluble and insoluble \u2014 can behave differently to impact viscosity, water binding, and texture. One of the biggest hurdles is delivering a good source of fiber (3 g or 10% of the daily value) without compromising taste and texture,\u201d Zaripheh explains.<\/p>\n

Fiber systems and ingredient innovation<\/p>\n

Manufacturers are moving beyond single fiber ingredients toward more sophisticated combinations to address these challenges. Danone\u2019s R&I teams are focused on fiber blends that can deliver functional performance, nutritional benefits, and sensory quality across its categories, from dairy-based yogurt to plant-based beverages.<\/p>\n

At the same time, innovation is expanding the ingredient toolbox. Emerging areas of focus include prebiotic fibers, resistant starches, upcycled plant fibers, and diverse soluble and insoluble blends. Beyond functionality, these ingredients also support clean label positioning and sustainability goals, making them increasingly attractive in modern product development.<\/p>\n

\u201cActivia Fiber, with 3 g of fiber, and Oikos Protein Shakes, with 5 g of prebiotic fiber, reflect our ability to deliver products that meet growing consumer interest in fiber-backed nutrition. While 90% of our ingredients and packaging are US-sourced, we work closely with a network of ingredient partners to ensure consistent, high-quality supply to our fiber-fortified products,\u201d says Zaripheh.\"ActiveFiber is now the second most sought-after functional ingredient, yet most consumers still fall short of recommended intake levels \u2014 highlighting a persistent \u201cfiber gap.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re also continuing to explore a variety of different fibers and fiber blends, including novel prebiotics, soluble and insoluble fibers, resistant starches, and upcycled plant fibers, which could help us unlock new functional and sustainability benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gut health as the primary growth engine<\/p>\n

Consumer demand for fiber is closely tied to the rise of gut health awareness<\/a>, driven in part by advances in microbiome research. Fiber \u2014 particularly prebiotic fiber \u2014 is widely recognized as a way to support beneficial gut bacteria. As a result, fiber is being positioned as an important factor in reducing the risk of conditions, such as Type 2 Diabetes<\/a> and cardiovascular disease<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s also important to remember that different types of fiber can offer different health benefits,\u201d Zaripheh continues. \u201cFiber has been shown to have benefits for gut health, metabolic health, heart health, and immune health. Prebiotic fiber specifically has been shown to nourish beneficial gut bacteria, which can then help provide additional gut health benefits. Together, all the different types of fiber help support the gut and offer benefits that extend well beyond digestion.\u201d<\/p>\n

The broader health halo is reshaping how companies position fiber in their portfolios. Rather than focusing solely on digestive benefits, brands are increasingly incorporating fiber into multi-benefit platforms. Danone, for example, is developing products that combine fiber with protein and micronutrients to deliver layered functionality.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith one of the most nutrient-dense portfolios, Danone is uniquely positioned to meet this demand and actively leverage science to create biotic-enriched products that advance fiber and gut health. This is seen in products like Activia Fiber and Oikos Protein Shakes, which are designed to deliver multiple benefits combining prebiotic fiber, key vitamins, and complete protein,\u201d says Zaripheh.<\/p>\n

Danone posted full-year 2025 sales<\/a> of \u20ac27.3 billion (~US$31.2 billion), up 4.5% on a like-for-like basis. Double-digit growth in its high-protein portfolio underpinned the French dairy giant\u2019s performance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Delivering on taste and tolerance<\/p>\n

Despite strong demand, consumer acceptance still hinges on product experience. Historically, fiber-enriched products have faced challenges around texture, flavor, and digestibility. Advances in food science are helping to close that gap, but careful formulation remains essential.\"DanoneManufacturers are shifting toward fiber blends and novel sources like prebiotics and resistant starches to balance functionality, taste, and texture in next-gen products.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur approach combines ingredient science and formulation with thorough testing of texture and consumer satisfaction. We carefully select fibers based on their solubility, nutritional benefits, and interaction with other ingredients,\u201d Zaripheh tells us.<\/p>\n

Equally important is managing dosage. While increasing fiber intake is beneficial, excessive amounts \u2014 particularly introduced too quickly \u2014 can lead to digestive discomfort. \u201cWe are careful not to add too much fiber into one product, as raising fiber intake too quickly, or without enough fluid to adapt, can cause digestive issues,\u201d adds Zaripheh.<\/p>\n

Danone\u2019s approach highlights a key consideration for manufacturers: success depends not just on adding fiber, but on integrating it in a way that aligns with consumer tolerance and expectations.<\/p>\n

Sourcing and supply as strategic levers<\/p>\n

As fiber becomes more central to product development, sourcing is emerging as a critical factor. Ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality ingredients requires strong supplier relationships and a diversified sourcing strategy \u2014 particularly as demand for functional fibers grows.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe work closely with trusted suppliers and continuously assess supply chain resilience, particularly as demand for functional fibers continues to grow,\u201d Zaripheh explains.<\/p>\n

Sourcing decisions also have wider implications. Factors, such as ingredient origin, processing methods, and sustainability credentials, can influence formulation choices, labeling, and cost structures. Most of Danone\u2019s ingredients and packaging are sourced domestically in the US, while it maintains a network of global partners to support fiber innovation.<\/p>\n

From trend to transformation<\/p>\n

Fiber\u2019s dramatic rise reflects more than a passing trend, signaling a broader shift in how the industry approaches nutrition, functionality, and product design.<\/p>\n

On one side, there is clear and sustained consumer demand, driven by health awareness and a persistent intake gap. On the other, there are real technical and operational challenges \u2014 from formulation and sensory performance to sourcing and scalability.<\/p>\n

For companies like Danone, the opportunity lies in bridging that gap. \u201cUltimately, success comes down to delivering products that meet nutritional expectations, while still providing a great-tasting product,\u201d says Zaripheh.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Fiber has moved from a nutrition afterthought to a formulation priority for F&B manufacturers, as Western consumers increasingly…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":403288,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[207931,207932,134,111,139,556,69],"class_list":["post-403287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nutrition","tag-dietary-fiber-trends","tag-gut-health-ingredients","tag-health","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nutrition","tag-nz"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/403287","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=403287"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/403287\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/403288"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=403287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=403287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=403287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}