In today’s food and beverage industry, success hinges on more than just performance. With growing pressure to meet regulatory, environmental and consumer expectations, brands are looking for partners who can deliver on every front: quality, reliability, innovation, and sustainability. At Jungbunzlauer, these qualities are not aspirational, they are operational standards.
AFBR spoke with Gregor Gams, Sales Director for APAC, Jungbunzlauer about the region’s evolving food and beverage landscape and how recent product launches like TayaGel® LA (Low-Acyl Gellan Gum) and magnesium bisglycinate are helping formulators meet shifting consumer demands.
The following are excerpts from the interview with him:
Let’s begin with the basics. What differentiates Jungbunzlauer as an ingredient supplier in the food and beverage sector?
Fundamentally, we believe our responsibility as a partner goes beyond simply supplying ingredients. Our value lies in our ability to consistently and reliably deliver the highest quality products and bio-based solutions that meet even the most demanding customer standards. This holds true across our portfolio, whether it’s organic mineral salts, texturants like xanthan gum, or newer products such as TayaGel® LA.
Increasingly, we do so in a sustainable manner that meets our customers’ demands to reduce their Scope 3 emissions. As a key link in their supply chain, our sustainability credentials are of growing importance to brands worldwide. That’s why we’re proud to have recently been rated Ecovadis Platinum, placing us among the top 1% of companies worldwide for corporate social responsibility. This recognition is meaningful, because it reflects a long-standing and measurable commitment to ethical sourcing, environmental performance and transparency.
What are the key trends shaping demand across the APAC region right now?
There’s been a noticeable shift towards functional and plant-based products, especially in the beverage and convenience categories. Consumers are better informed and more selective. They’re looking for products that support health, are made with recognisable ingredients and align with their personal values – including sustainability. This is where we think we have a real advantage.
Our texturants and functional mineral salts help bridge this gap by offering reliable performance without compromising on formulation flexibility or consumer appeal. For example, we see strong interest in beverage solutions that can both suspend particles and maintain a clear, smooth appearance, especially in trending categories like fruit-based drinks or dairy alternatives.
This is exactly where TayaGel® LA is gaining traction. As a low-acyl gellan gum, it creates a clear fluid-gel network that keeps even larger particles and insoluble salts uniformly suspended. Its label-friendly profile, bio-based origin, and low usage levels make it ideal for formulators responding to these regional trends.
Jungbunzlauer recently launched TayaGel® LA. How has it been received, and what makes it special?
The response has been very positive so far. TayaGel® LA performs exceptionally well wherever clarity, texture, and visual appeals are critical. It offers a clean, label-friendly solution for creating clear, stable suspensions with a smooth mouthfeel, even in acidic systems or those containing challenging particles.
But it’s important to note that selecting and replacing a texturant is rarely a simple one-for-one swap. Each application comes with its own set of formulation challenges, whether it’s particle suspension, heat stability, or texture optimisation. This is where the expertise of our application development team plays a key role.
TayaGel® LA, as a low-acyl gellan gum, adds significant value to our offering. When combined with TayaGel® HA, our high-acyl gellan gum, and our extensive range of xanthan gum, we now offer a complete portfolio of texturants that can address virtually any formulation challenge in the beverage, bakery or convenience food sectors.
Another major innovation this year was the launch of magnesium bisglycinate. Can you tell us more about it?
We’ve long had a strong portfolio of organic mineral salts, including a range of magnesium solutions that support nutritional and functional claims in foods and beverages. And for example, while magnesium oxide has traditionally been the magnesium of choice in parts of Asia, our new magnesium bisglycinate offers a clear advantage: significantly better absorption. This fully chelated, organic magnesium salt complements our existing portfolio with a format that’s seeing surging global demand. It’s valued for its high bioavailability and strong alignment with today’s label-friendly expectations. Already widely recognised among nutritionally aware consumers, particularly in segments like stress support, sleep, and muscle recovery, its popularity continues to grow as social media and digital health platforms expand access to nutritional information.
Today’s consumers are more informed than ever about what they put into their bodies. They’re actively researching ingredients, comparing formats, and seeking products that deliver real efficacy. For brands, that means choosing quality ingredients that can stand up to scrutiny — and magnesium bisglycinate does exactly that.
Backed by Jungbunzlauer’s reputation for purity and consistency, and a range of complementary ingredients, it’s a powerful choice for customers looking to elevate their health and wellness offerings in a crowded marketplace.
How do you see sustainability influencing purchasing decisions in this region?
Sustainability is no longer just a matter of values – it is about resilience and business continuity. As global supply chains face increasing pressure from resource constrains, energy volatility and evolving regulations, companies are looking for partners who can deliver both performance and reliability. For us, sustainability means building systems that are more efficient and better prepared for the future. That translates into reliable sources of energy, reduced exposure to risk, and consistent quality – advantages that directly strengthen our customers’ operations
Our Ecovadis Platinum rating is not just a badge of responsibility, but evidence of how we embed efficiently and resilience into everything we do – from energy use, emission and waste reduction, and supply chain transparency. For our customers, this is more than reassurance; it is a partnership that supports long term growth and competitiveness.
What are customers in APAC prioritising when choosing suppliers today?
It’s not only just about cost or availability anymore – it’s also about supply security, regulatory compliance, technical support, and how ingredients can help unlock innovation.
Customers want suppliers who can provide ideas, understand local market needs, and offer consistent, reliable quality across global operations. We are investing in regional support teams, R&D, and supply chain resilience to meet those expectations.
Where are the biggest future opportunities for Jungbunzlauer in the region?
We see continued growth in texturants and nutritional ingredients globally, especially those that support clean label, plant-based and functional trends. Our xanthan gum and TayaGel® HA remain essential for stabilisation and mouthfeel, and with the addition of TayaGel® LA, we can support more specialised applications that demand both clarity and suspension.
At the same time, there’s a growing need for high-purity mineral salts that can support health claims in nutrition, food and beverages. Our magnesium bisglycinate is just the beginning of a broader move into performance nutrition
Ultimately, it’s not just about ingredients – it’s about helping our customers build better, more resilient brands.
What is your final word to manufacturers reading this article ?
If you’re looking for a partner that understands how to produce consistently high-quality ingredients, as well as the business of nutrition, food and beverages, we’d love to speak with you.
Our promise to customers goes beyond just ingredients. We are your partner for ingredient and service excellence, combining more than 150 years of fermentation expertise and an industry-leading commitment to sustainability— to provide naturally better, biodegradable solutions you can trust to perform. Whether you are developing the next standout beverage or improving the nutritional profile of an existing product, we’re ready to help you move forward – confidently and responsibly.
