Alternative ingredients create stability and freedom of action

Alternative ingredients can be much more than just finding a substitute for a raw material.

They can also be smarter ways of working, where ingredients are repackaged in the packaging sizes that best suit production, or where ingredients are mixed so that a blend arrives ready for use.

When we work together on alternative solutions, it is about creating stability, security and continuity throughout the supply chain – from recipe and process to finished product.

Ismageriet adjusted its recipes and replaced parts of the ingredients with a ready-to-use blend. The result was a shorter production process and fewer errors in everyday operations.

Security throughout the process

Alternative ingredients are part of the safety net that allows your production to continue even when the market changes or a raw material is unavailable.

When plan B is ready, approved and documented in advance, it creates stability and freedom of action.

At Procudan, we work with:

• Pre-approvals, so that alternative ingredients are ready when the need arises.
• Documentation and testing, so that the solutions are proven and work.
• Process adjustments, where repackaging and blends make production easier.

When alternatives are lacking – and plan B is ready

A lack of alternative ingredients can have major consequences.

We have seen how production can come to a halt because of a single raw material that cannot be obtained. Private label projects can stall because the approval flow has to be repeated in two stages. And new ingredients can create extra work because they have to be approved and tested overnight. This costs time, money and relationships.

Companies that instead make working with alternative ingredients a permanent part of their strategy – while continuously reviewing their processes to find smarter and more efficient ways of doing things – experience the following:

• Greater flexibility in purchasing and production.
• Less risk of unforeseen stoppages.
• More streamlined processes, where handling and production become simpler and more stable.

Working with alternative ingredients is therefore not just a plan B, but an active part of a robust strategy.

Read our article Five tips for recipe optimisation for specific advice on how to optimise recipes in practice.

A bakery customer had a product that separated water during heating. Together with one of our partners, we added two new ingredients that stabilised the recipe and reduced water separation.

A shared approach to solutions

Working with alternative ingredients is therefore not just about raw materials and products.

We see it as a whole, where we work together to find the combination of ingredients, blends and repackaging that creates the most value in practice.

It's about thinking solutions before products – and making sure everything is tested and ready to work in the world you live in. That way, alternative ingredients become an investment in security and stability.

If you'd like to talk about what that might look like for you, just get in touch using the form below.

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