Tate & Lyle and Long Life Dairy collaborate to improve consumer access to dairy

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Tate & Lyle’s stabiliser solutions help Long Life Dairy to develop a new range of low cost, long shelf life dairy products enabling more families in South Africa to access the nutritional benefits of dairy.

 

Lubeck Dairy

Randburg, South Africa, 20 June 2019: Tate & Lyle PLC (Tate & Lyle), a leading global provider of food and beverage ingredients and solutions, has worked with Long Life Dairy, a subsidiary of leading dairy manufacturer Unique Dairy, to create a range of low cost, long shelf life products to enable more families with limited access to refrigeration to benefit from dairy.

Dairy, which can provide key nutrients such as calcium and protein, is the most commonly under consumed food group in South Africa after fruit and vegetables1, with experts citing availability and cost as the main barriers to consumption2. Developed using Tate & Lyle’s stabilisers and functional systems, the new range of affordable yoghurt-style dairy snacks, bottled milkshakes and custard pouches do not require refrigeration and are shelf stable for up to one year. In contrast, a typical yoghurt would require refrigeration and have a use by date of up to 30 days.

Tate & Lyle technical service teams in Kya Sand, Johannesburg, South Africa, and Lübeck, Germany, worked with Long Life Dairy’s development team to trial different recipe formulations. Using Tate & Lyle’s stabilising ingredient blends, which ensure foods and beverages retain their structure and texture throughout their shelf life, Long Life Dairy trialed products in Tate & Lyle’s pilot plant in Germany before selecting final recipes to take into full-scale production at the manufacturer’s new facility in Pretoria.

Stefan Van der Berg, General Manager, Long Life Dairy, said: “Many dairy products on sale in the South Africa require cold storage and, although ambient shelf life milk and custard are widely available, there are few on-the-go dairy options for immediate consumption. We believe that our new long-life dairy products developed with Tate & Lyle are unique in the South African dairy market, due to their on-the-go format and the innovative stabilisers and functional systems used to deliver nutrition, shelf stability and great taste at an affordable price. Ambient dairy is an exciting new sub-category for our business and we are exploring opportunities to introduce the new range to consumers in other African regions.”

Neels Poerstamper, Technical Support Manager South Africa, Tate & Lyle, said: “Using our innovative stabiliser ingredient blends, we are proud to have helped Long Life Dairy to create an innovative new product range that will help more families to enjoy the benefits of dairy, particularly those without access to cold storage. This product innovation demonstrates how, with customers, we are providing access to nutritious and affordable foods, and delivering on our purpose of Improving Lives for Generations. The packaging, price point and long shelf life make the range particularly attractive to South Africa’s many solo traders, allowing them to capitalise on resale opportunities.”

ENDS

Sources:

1. Mchiza ZJ, Steyn NP, Hill J, Kruger A, Schönfeldt H, Nel J, Wentzel-Viljoen E (2015) A Review of Dietary Surveys in the Adult South African Population from 2000 to 2015, Nutrients, 7, 8227-8250.
 
2. Shisana O, Labadarios D, Rehle T, Simbayi L, Zuma K, Dhansay A, Reddy P, Parker W, Hoosain E, Naidoo P, Hongoro C, Mchiza Z, Steyn NP, Dwane N, Makoae M, Maluleke T, Ramlagan S, Zungu N, Evans MG, Jacobs L, Faber M, & the SANHANES-1 Team (2014) South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES-1): 2014 Edition. Cape Town: HSRC Press.
Media contact:

Anna Taylor
Corporate PR Manager
07766361515 / anna.taylor@tateandlyle.com

Notes to editors

Tate & Lyle has been working directly with customers in Africa for 10 years, supplying ingredients and tailored ingredient blends that add taste, texture, stability and added nutrition to foods and beverages. Manufacturers in the region have been using its stabilising systems for more than 30 years.

Tate & Lyle’s customer collaborations are coordinated from the Company’s sales representatives in Abidjan, West Africa, Randburg, South Africa, Morocco, the Maghreb, and from Dubai, UAE, as well as through distribution partners. Product development work with customers is carried out across Tate & Lyle’s global network of application labs, but primarily its facilities in Lille, France, and Lübeck, Germany. At its production facility in Kya Sand, Johannesburg, tailored ingredient blends are produced that provide stabilisation and ensure foods and beverages maintain their texture.

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About Tate & Lyle: 
Supported by our 160-year history of ingredient innovation, we partner with customers to provide consumers with healthier and tastier choices when they eat and drink. We are proud that millions of people around the world consume products containing our ingredients every day.

Through our expertise in sweetening, fortification, and texture, we develop ingredient solutions which reduce sugar, calories, and fat, add fibre and protein, and provide texture and stability in categories including beverages, dairy, bakery, snacks, soups, sauces, and dressings.

We have more than 3,500 employees working in around 57 locations across 39 countries. Science, Solutions, Society is our brand promise and how we will achieve our purpose of Transforming Lives Through the Science of Food. By living our purpose we believe we can successfully grow our business and have a positive impact on society. We live our purpose in three ways, by supporting healthy living, building thriving communities and caring for our planet.

Tate & Lyle is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol TATE.L. American Depositary Receipts trade under TATYY. In the year to 31 March 2023, Tate & Lyle revenue from continuing operations totalled £1.75 billion. For more information, please visit https://www.tateandlyle.com or follow Tate & Lyle on LinkedinX (Twitter)Facebook or YouTube