FDBusiness.com

Taura Natural Ingredients has named France-based Phoenix Ingredients as European distributor for its Gourmet Series fruit pieces for the artisanal confectionery and bakery sectors.

Phoenix, based in Bordeaux, will collaborate with Taura Natural Ingredients to find new channels for Gourmet Series, which taps into the growing trend for high quality, hand-made confectionery and bakery products.

Taura’s Gourmet Series comprises six varieties of fruit pieces made using the unique Ultra Rapid Concentration (URC^®) technology. All are designed to be easily used ‘off-the-peg’ by smaller-scale craft bakeries, chocolate producers and innovative chefs.

Included in the Gourmet Series range are strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, orchard fruit, orange and honey. All six varieties offer the benefits that are now synonymous with Taura’s industrial-scale ingredients but in a format and pack-size that has been specially created for artisan producers.

[quote]Alexandre Nau, founder and director of Phoenix, said: “We’re delighted to team up with Taura Natural Ingredients to market Gourmet Series across Europe. It’s an excellent concept that answers a genuine need in the artisan bakery and confectionery sector for authentic fruit ingredients that can be used easily and without fuss.”[/quote]

Peter Forceville, Sales & Marketing Director EMEA at Taura Natural Ingredients, added: “Alexandre has a superb track record in the market for premium quality bakery ingredients so it made sense to partner with Phoenix at a time when we are looking to mount a real push for Gourmet Series across Europe. Consumers are increasingly looking for real fruit ingredients in their bakery and confectionery products, and Gourmet Series offers an easy way for companies to meet this demand with none of the technical drawbacks associated with other types of fruit ingredients.”

Phoenix takes over from Netherlands-based VIP4VIP as distributor for Gourmet Series. Peter Forceville said: “We’ve had a really successful partnership with VIP4VIP and Remy de Bruijn, the company’s founder. We wish Remy all the best and thank him for all his fantastic efforts during the time we worked together.”

Gourmet Series URC^® fruit pieces are suitable for use in a wide range of artisanal products, including chocolates, cakes, biscuits, cookies, muffins, breads and brioches, as well as dishes and desserts served in restaurants. With their high fruit content, these premium quality ingredients offer a delicious, convenient and functional alternative to fresh, candied and dried fruit ingredients.

Gourmet Series has all the taste of fresh fruit, but without the mess and perishability. With a long shelf life at room temperature, the range can help craft bakers, chocolatiers and chefs eliminate the high levels of waste often associated with fresh fruit, thereby controlling costs. Gourmet Series also offers significant taste advantages over dried fruit ingredients and, in contrast to candied fruit pieces, contain no added preservatives, artificial colours or flavours.

URC^® (Ultra Rapid Concentration) is a unique process of concentrating the taste, texture and natural goodness of fruit into pieces, flakes and pastes for use in applications such as chocolate, baked goods, confectionery and snack bars.