Consumers are increasingly mindful of their dietary choices and of the ecological impact that goes into the manufacturing of the products they buy. As such, they are seeking healthier and more sustainable answers within the food aisle.
The question today is how whole ingredients are providing some of those answers and contributing to a more sustainable and higher-quality food industry?
Let’s find out.
The nutritional impact of over-processing
Modern food processing techniques often involve extensive refining and the addition of artificial additives and enhancers to boost shelf life and flavor. However, these practices also lead to a significant loss of essential nutrients in the final products. The refinement process behind ultra-processed food products is also negatively affecting the environment.
And so the use of whole foods in CPG products is quickly becoming a valuable counterattack in favor of both consumers’ health and the planet’s survival.
At the same time, whole foods are offering food brands novel business opportunities. By embracing whole ingredients, brands can prioritize natural nutrients and sustainability, much like the bean-to-bar chocolate movement is doing.
Through this movement’s hands-on approach that prioritizes craftsmanship and sustainability, bean-to-bar chocolate makers retain the natural flavors and character of cacao beans, resulting in a fuller-bodied and more unique product, while reducing the need for large-scale manufacturing.
What are the benefits of whole foods?
Whole foods like whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes bring a wealth of benefits to product lines. So let’s look at some of the biggest reasons why whole foods should be at the top of the inventory food chain for your brand:
Higher Nutrient Content
Whole foods are higher in nutrients like fiber, minerals, and vitamins than processed foods and can help lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
Better Digestive Health
Whole foods contain more fiber than their refined counterparts and as a result can feed the good bacteria in our guts, improving digestive health.
Lower Sugar Content
In the absence of flavoring and additives, whole foods only contain natural sugars that are more easily digested by the body.
Environmental Sustainability
By cutting out multiple refining stages, whole foods are produced in a more environmentally sustainable way than processed foods.
Increased Traceability
The shorter supply chain allows buyers to keep a closer eye on the supply journey with increased transparency and traceability.
Strong Brand Identity
Incorporating whole foods helps brands set themselves apart in a market that is becoming increasingly split between brands driven by profit alone and those who actually care about the impact they’re having on the world.
Breaking into a whole new market with whole foods
With the rise of organizations like Whole Foods Market, getting more sustainable products into whole food distributors and local stores is becoming a lot simpler.
And when Amazon buys a business for $13.7billion, you know it’s a market that’s doing something right. And this was five years ago. Since then, with the help of Amazon’s resources, Whole Foods Market has continued to grow and expand in both the USA and the UK.
And one of the biggest reasons for this growth is the support it’s offering other brands.
Health food suppliers like Whole Foods Market are offering private label brands and those new to the whole food game the opportunity to benefit from their established brand identity and high-quality customer experiences even when they’re new to the market.
But getting your latest product onto the market is only the final step of a journey that has to begin with the sourcing of high-quality whole food ingredients.
Sourcing the highest quality whole foods from across the world
Wholesale importing and bulk whole food orders are the most reliable ways to ensure that your brand can stay up with consumer demand no matter how the market changes. However, finding the best ingredients and sustainable farms can be difficult when the source is situated halfway across the world.
That’s why Ingredient Brothers is so proud of our international team who are situated at ground zero with direct access to the farms and plantations we buy from. Our quality assurance isn’t a second-hand product passed on down the supply chain – it’s always based on first-hand knowledge of what’s happening out there where the magic begins.
We’ve been part of the whole food industry for some time now, supplying seeds and nuts along with other whole foods to multiple brands across America. We’ve seen the trend building over time and know that there’s never been a better time than now to explore the sustainable and nutritious benefits of whole foods in your brand.
If you’re interested in our range of products, you can check our extensive product list to discover the variety we offer. And if you don’t find exactly what you’re looking for, let us know, and we can source it for you. So schedule a call with us to see how we can help you break into the whole food market.
