Caffeinated convenience: TopGum launches new coffee gummies
The Israeli-based company exhibited the new ‘Gummiccino’ line at Vitafoods last week, presenting the espresso, cappuccino, and mocha flavour ranges utilising an extract of robusta coffee beans.
Containing 40mg of coffee per serving of two gummies, the equivalent to an espresso shot, the supplements aim to conveniently deliver a high dose of caffeine to on-the-go consumers.
“Until now, coffee-flavoured caffeine gummies have had a limited market presence due to tendencies to develop a bitter flavour. Thanks to our novel TopCaps technology, busy coffee lovers can finally experience the rich flavour of coffee in gummy form, with zero bitterness,” highlighted Amichai Bar-Nir, CEO of TopGum.
The launch continues the company’s innovation portfolio into the gummy format; a supplement segment noted to be one of the fastest-growing categories, with a 54% global growth in its usage noted from 2017-2022 (Innova Market insights).
TopGum also offers a range of dietary supplements containing vitamins, minerals, biotics, and botanicals, as well as nutraceutical solutions commercialised on a private-label basis.
Benefits of caffeine
According to a survey conducted by the International Coffee Organisation, it was reported that 242 million kilograms of coffee between 2020 and 2021 was consumed in Europe. Paired with an ever-growing demand for convenience, Topgum’s innovation has created a solution for consumers seeking a quick energy boost.
With cognitive health solutions recently coming to the forefront of consumer’s priorities, the launch taps into a global brain health market estimated to reach $10 billion by 2025 (Coherent Market Insights, Grand Research Review).
Highlighting the key demographic for the range, Idan Katz, VP of global sales, told NutraIngredients: “It’s for the consumer that needs to stay awake on a long journey, the consumer that is involved in gaming and esports, and for those that just need an energy boost during the day.”
Studies have observed the potential beneficial effects of caffeine on mental performance in terms of alertness and memory, as well as for physical performance.
Production challenges
Eli Edri, COO and VP of strategic partnerships, described the new microencapsulation innovation used to develop the new line: “The product line represents the culmination of a lengthy and complex development process.
“Over the last couple of years, we worked on the development of a state-of-the-art microencapsulation technology, called TopCaps, that is uniquely tailored for gummies. This innovative technology allows consumers to savour the flavour and aroma of coffee-on-the-go, while energizing themselves with a single chewy treat.”
He added: “The new line represents a breakthrough in the caffeine gummy space. Our TopCaps microencapsulation system allows the body to effectively absorb the caffeine by coating the caffeine particles with a natural substance that breaks down in the stomach, not the mouth. TopCaps technology will allow additional functionalities, which will be presented next year.”
TopGum plans to continue its innovation efforts leveraging the new technology based on consumer feedback, with plans to establish a plant in Israel to enable production for the global market.
