SternVitamin at ProSweets: Focus on Healthy Snacks

SternVitamin, a global supplier of micronutrient premixes, is participating in ProSweets Cologne for the first time. In the new ISM ingredients section of the international trade fair for the confectionery and snack industry, SternVitamin will present new products for the growing functional confectionery market. Alongside other brands of the Stern-Wywiol Group, including SternEnzym, Olbricht Arom, Sternchemie, and Planteneers, the company will exhibit in Hall 10.1 at Stand J009. At the event, a protein bar, a raspberry-coconut wafer, and innovative clean-label ice cream solutions developed by Planteneers will be available for tasting.

Confectionery trend: Combining enjoyment and health

According to Innova Market Insights, consumers are increasingly looking for ‘better-for-you’ products. These are products that combine enjoyment with health benefits and contribute to well-being. Snacks are no longer just consumed to satisfy hunger but also to boost energy levels, improve mood, and optimize nutrient intake. According to Innova, consumers prefer snacks that contain as few unhealthy ingredients as possible as well as natural and functional ingredients, which meaningfully contribute to their daily diet.¹ Fortified products containing vitamins, minerals, fibre, and protein are therefore in particularly high demand.¹

In response to the growing popularity of ‘healthy snacking’, SternVitamin has developed two new products. In collaboration with SternEnzym, OlbrichtArom, and Sternchemie, the company has created a raspberry-coconut wafer containing the Stern PowerUp premix. This premix consists of vitamins B₁, B₃, B₆, B₁₂, C, and pantothenic acid, which support mental and cognitive function.

A double chocolate brownie-flavoured protein bar has been developed together with Herza, SternLife, and other brands of the Stern-Wywiol Group. It contains a premix that provides B vitamins and other nutrients for long-lasting performance and immune health. Vitamins B₁, B₃, and B₆ support energy metabolism, helping to increase energy levels, while vitamins C and E support the normal function of the immune system.

Micronutrient fortification in technologically challenging products

In addition to customer-specific premixes, SternVitamin also offers innovative premix solutions, such as SternGummies. They serve as a product idea, highlighting the target groups for which certain micronutrients are particularly important. The small product formats as well as gel and structuring systems make the fortification of confectionery a technological challenge: "Fruit gums, sweets, and similar products often weigh very little, only a few grams. This makes premix dosing a challenge. Thanks to our technological expertise, we can provide our customers with the optimal solution," explains Melanie Wunderlich, R&D Technologist, Sweets at SternVitamin.