From sicilian Carob pulp to a ready-to-use stick pack: the story of an innovation that combines nature, technology and co-packing.
In the landscape of functional ingredients for food & beverage, finding a natural sweetener that is both versatile, clean label and low glycemic index is no easy feat. LBG Sicilia — a world leader in carob gum for more than 25 years — has succeeded with SYFRUIT®, a syrup obtained from the pulp of Carob, the fruit of the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua) through a completely chemical-free extraction process. To bring it to the market in a practical and immediate way, it chose Encanto and its Stick Pack Multilayer.
Who is LBG Sicilia
LBG was founded in 2001 with the SEEDGUM® range of Carob Gum and quickly grew to become the leading private, independent player in the world market, serving prestigious food companies in more than 90 countries. The company’s philosophy interweaves research, development and technology with a profoundly sustainable vision: each product comes from a responsible process that is mindful of the supply chain and environmental impact.
LBG Sicilia carries on this same vision by focusing on natural functional ingredients: from carob seed flour — their historic flagship product — to the enhancement of the pulp of the same fruit, which gave birth to SYFRUIT®.
SYFRUIT®, the sweetness that comes from nature
SYFRUIT® is a syrup that serves as a highly effective, clear, colorless and viscous natural sweetener that perfectly mimics the taste and texture of traditional sugar syrup — but without flavoring, chemical additives and with a naturally low glycemic index due to its reduced glucose content compared to competing sweeteners such as tapioca, corn or potato derivatives.
The extraction process uses only water infusion, resulting in a gluten-free, GMO-free and allergen-free product that is also available in a certified organic version. Its characteristics allow for cross-use: it works as a pure sweetener, but also as a thickener or gelling agent, opening up formulation possibilities in food, beverage and nutraceuticals.
«We want to propose this product to all companies that are looking for a natural, versatile, flavorless, low-glycemic sweetener that works in different recipes from food & beverage to nutraceuticals.» — LBG Sicily
Why a Stick Pack? The choice of packaging with Encanto
How did the collaboration come about?
«Almost by chance» they recount from LBG Sicilia: looking for innovative packaging solutions, other companies in the sector pointed them toward Encanto. From that recommendation came a collaboration that shaped a specific need: to find a format that would allow them to introduce SYFRUIT® to as many people as possible, quickly, conveniently and safely.
The Solution: Stick Pack Multilayer
The choice fell on Encanto’s Stick Pack Multilayer, a format composed of multiple layers of barrier materials — plastic and aluminum — that protect the contents from moisture, oxygen, and light. An ideal solution for a product like SYFRUIT®, which requires high protection to preserve the integrity of sensitive ingredients and ensure an extended shelf-life.
The convenience of transport, single-serving and immediate opening make this format perfect for both B2B sampling — getting potential industrial customers to try the product — and on-the-go consumer applications. The stick pack thus becomes, in LBG Sicilia’s words, “the right vehicle to get as many people as possible to try this wonder of nature/technology.”
Co-packing as a strategic lever
LBG Sicilia’s case history tells much more than a simple packaging choice: it is the story of a company that has been able to enhance a by-product — Carob pulp — turning it into a functional ingredient with high added value, and that has found in co-packing with Encanto the right tool to bring it to market in a professional, scalable and immediately communicative guise.
When developing a new product, packaging is not a detail: it is the first point of contact with the customer. Choosing the right format, with the right barrier properties and ease of use, means accelerating product adoption and conveying quality from the first contact.
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