Navigating manufacturing challenges in a GLP-1 optimised food market

The growing popularity of GLP-1 has led to an evolution in consumer eating habits, with a notable shift towards smaller portion sizes, nutrient-dense food, and high-protein or high-fibre packaged food options. This demand for functional, convenient GLP-1 optimised food products presents a new challenge for manufacturers: how to create desirable, indulgent flavours that can be delivered in small portions and remain appealing even when appetite is reduced.

Here, we’ll explore how Ohly’s natural solutions can be used to create indulgent flavour for smaller, nutrient-dense, healthy food applications. 

How is GLP-1 changing food manufacturing?

GLP-1 drugs support weight loss by slowing the rate at which the stomach empties. As a result, users feel fuller for longer, so they are less hungry and therefore eat less. However, reduced hunger cues mean that eating becomes less instinctive so it can be more difficult to maintain nutritional intake, particularly as this type of weight loss may include a reduction in muscle mass rather than body fat. This means eating habits need to focus on maintaining muscle and preventing deficiencies by prioritising nutrients like protein and fibre in addition to ensuring adequate water intake. Crucially, this relies on ensuring GLP-1 users are motivated to consume nutritious food in the absence of strong hunger signals.

These evolving habits are leading to increased consumer demand for more nutrient-dense food in smaller portions that still feel tasty and enjoyable. Manufacturers are responding by developing functional food options and adapting their formulations to bring in more nutrients with a particular focus on protein and fibre whilst maintaining interesting and complex flavours.

Achieving satisfaction in smaller portions

Adjusting formulations for smaller portions can represent a challenge for manufacturers to achieve the same flavour complexity or impact they get with regular servings. Reduced portion sizes make it difficult to deliver a rounded, satisfactory eating experience. 

Delivering superior taste and indulgence in GLP-1 optimised food

Despite the need to meet daily nutritional needs, GLP-1 optimised food trends show a significant shift from the traditional 'better-for-you' narrative to a discourse that values enjoyment and indulgence alongside nutrition. With diminished hunger cues, consumption is less driven by appetite and more by appeal, meaning consumers are more likely to rely on taste, texture and overall eating experience to make food choices. As a result, manufacturers need to focus on flavour depth, richness and texture to create products that deliver an appealing, indulgent experience as well as providing nutritional value.

How Ohly's natural solutions can solve formulation challenges of GLP-1 friendly food?

Ohly offers natural flavour delivery and taste modulation solutions to create the indulgent sensory experience GLP-1 consumers are looking for. Under PRODRY and OHLY brands we offer products that:  

• Introduce complex natural flavours in easy-to-handle powder form
• Accentuate and extend spicy notes or fruit flavours
• Enhance savoury and roasted notes
• Balance acidity
• Create a perception of juiciness and mask off-notes in alternative protein or low sugar formulations
• Bring out chocolate flavours and richness in reduced cocoa formulations

Ohly taste improvement and culinary powder solutions can be used by manufacturers across various GLP-1 friendly applications, including nutrient-dense, meal replacement and small portion options.

Richer savoury notes

Savoury building blocks help create fuller, more rounded savoury flavour profiles, supporting richer taste experiences in reduced portions and nutrient-dense applications. By enhancing depth, savoury building blocks can help smaller portions to feel richer and more indulgent. Designed to be integrated into a variety of formulations- from soups to sauces, snacks and ready meals- solutions like OHLY^® KAT/KAV will ensure GLP-1 friendly foods deliver umami-rich savoury flavours.

Flavour depth and balance

Taste modulation solutions can be used to enhance the perception of spicy notes and fruit flavours to help manufacturers create flavour balance in GLP-1 optimised food formulations and improve the eating experience in “better-for-you” products. From supporting rounded, balanced flavour profiles to reducing undesirable off-notes in plant-based proteins, solutions like OHLY^® FLAV-R-MAX can be utilised in soups, sauces, meat and baked goods for high umami and maximum taste experience. 

Bold and complex flavours

Given their limited appetite, GLP-1 consumers look for tempting and interesting flavours to derive enjoyment from smaller portions. With PRODRY^®, Ohly flavour experts have developed a range of culinary powders to deliver complex flavours in applications like snacks and dry seasonings. Whether you need the natural sweetness of PRODRY^® Honey Powders, the sharp tanginess of PRODRY^® Vinegar Powders or the vibrant heat of PRODRY^® Hot Sauce Powders, these culinary powders provide powerful, long-lasting flavours in convenient powder form. 

Cocoa reduction solutions for indulgent chocolate profiles

Cocoa reduction solutions bring balance, amplifying rich chocolate flavour and roasted chocolate notes while supporting flavour consistency. Ideal for manufacturers looking to reduce cocoa applications amidst current supply challenges, these yeast extracts also offer a way to maximise taste in nutrient-dense products. In addition to enhancing the richness, complexity and indulgent mouthfeel of chocolate beverages, desserts and baked goods, they also boost creamy chocolate flavours allowing manufacturers to create decadent, mouthwatering formulations to appeal to GLP-1 users.

GLP-1 optimised food formulations with Ohly

As GLP-1-influenced eating habits continue to reshape consumer expectations, the demand for products that combine nutrition, convenience, and indulgence is expected to grow. With expertise in flavour development, taste modulation and off-note masking, Ohly is ready to collaborate with manufacturers to create new formulations and adapt to these evolving market needs.