Planteneers offers plant-based dairy alternatives

The “plant-based revolution” is not just a dominant international food trend, it is also one of the Hydrosol’s developments. A specialist for stabilizing and texturing systems, the company has grown to become one of the key players in the burgeoning market for plant-based alternatives.

Its product portfolio has expanded enormously, and last year this expertise was bundled in the newly founded Plant Based Competence Center. Now comes the next step: Hydrosol’s unit for plant-based has become an autonomous company, and as of 28 September, Planteneers – The Plant Based Pioneers – are the experts for plant-based alternatives within the Stern-Wywiol Gruppe. This new subsidiary builds on the success of Hydrosol, and is likewise led by managing director Dr. Matthias Moser.

“We intend to continue to grow with both companies,” emphasizes Torsten Wywiol, CEO of the Stern-Wywiol Gruppe in a press release. “With that in mind, it will be important to focus on each of their strengths, and further build on them for both brands with the appropriate strategies in each case. That’s the reason we separated the plant-based field out of Hydrosol. To put it differently, our former ‘plant based baby’ has grown up and is ready to strike out on its own. We’re bundling its capabilities in a dedicated company.”

This is the perfect time, according to Dr. Moser: “The category of plant-based solutions for alternative forms of nutrition has already attained remarkable scale. But it still offers significant further growth opportunities, which we can make much better use of with a dedicated company and a focused strategy.” The conditions could not be more promising.

For alternative dairy products, Future Market Insights predicts a doubling of the market volume through 2029 to around US $34.6 billion. Plant-based is also rapidly becoming a new normal in out-of-home eating. “Through intensive research, creative ideas and tireless pioneering spirit, at Planteneers we intend to play an active role in shaping the future of the industry,” explains Dr. Moser. “We’re definitely moving beyond just stabilizing and texturizing. At Planteneers we’re concentrating on the development of trend product concepts in the growth categories.” The focus is on plant-based alternatives to dairy products and deli foods, as well as hybrid products.

Hydrosol’s expertise in stabilizing and texturing benefits its new sister company. Close communication between both companies ensures that plant-based desserts have the desirable creamy texture. Through collaboration with the other Stern-Wywiol Gruppe subsidiaries, Planteneers can offer customers attractive system solutions from a single source, from stabilizing and texturing to flavouring and fortification.