Comfort food, with a lot of potential!
Soup is a beloved meal staple across Europe and the broader EMEA region. It not only serves as a comforting dish but has also witnessed consistent market growth in recent years. From 2020 to 2024, the soup category saw over 7,600 new product launches in the region, with wet soups leading the charge. With a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.33% for Europe and 6.55% for EMEA, the soup market shows no signs of slowing down according to Innova Market Insights.
Sauces, on the other hand, are the heart of Asian cuisine; they add depth, umami, and character to traditional, well-loved dishes, enhancing both flavour and aroma. With strong demand across Asia, the sauces, dressings, and condiments market is projected to grow at a 5.9% CAGR from 2024 to 2030.
As an industry that thrives on innovation, one opportunity stands out: fibre enrichment.
Fibres and Gut Health: A Growing Consumer Focus
Why fibre in soups and sauces?
Across Europe, over 50% of consumers are looking for soup with high nutrient ingredient content; whilst in APAC, brands face consumer preferences that are significantly shifting towards healthier food choices, such as reducing their sugar and/or sodium intake from everyday foods such as sauces (Mintel 2018, Consumer study Soup - Europe). Because fibre has taken centre stage in the world of nutrition, fibre-rich foods have become a go-to for maintaining a healthy microbiome (Innova Market Insights, 2025). And soups - already a versatile base for nutrition - and sauces are well-positioned to capitalise on this trend.
Our Solutions
IMCD Food and Nutrition offer solutions in the following areas to tackle the key challenges in soups and sauces formulation:
- Sodium and sugar reduction: Achieve balanced taste and functionality without compromising flavour.
- Clean-label and natural: Formulate with simple, recognizable ingredients to meet consumer demand.
- Mouthfeel and stability: Ensure optimal texture, viscosity and shelf-life.
- Fat reduction: Maintain a rich, creamy mouthfeel while lowering the fat content.
- Fibre enrichment: Enhance nutritional value by incorporating dietary fibre for gut health.
Fibre in Soups: Current Landscape and Market Gaps
Currently, the majority of soups on the market contain only trace amounts of fibre, with most products offering less than 2 grams per 100 grams. In fact, a significant portion of the soup category’s new product launches contains little to no added fibre, with only 3.6% of launches featuring added fibre and just 2.5% carrying a high-fibre claim.
So, where does this leave an opportunity for innovation? Considering that fibre claims —such as “Source of Fibre” and “High in Fibre”— are still relatively rare in soups, there’s ample room to create products that target this growing demand. As fibre becomes a more sought-after ingredient, soup manufacturers can take advantage of consumer interest in digestive health by developing fibre-rich offerings that appeal to health-conscious consumers.
IMCD SOUP CONCEPT: One formulation, Two delicious flavours!
Concept Highlights:
- High in Protein & Source of Fibres: Nutritional benefits to support your wellness.
- Vegan: Plant-based alternative suitable for all dietary preferences.
- Vitamin Enriched: Offers health claims that resonate with today’s informed consumers.
- Instant Concept: Ready in moments, ideal for busy consumers.
Quality Ingredients:
- Natural Colour: Enhances the overall appearance with a vibrant hue.
- Vitamin Blend: Supports immunity, enhances skin health, and strengthens bones.
- Vegetable Proteins: Deliver an optimal amino acid profile and functionality.
- Corn Starch: Instant, non-GMO, clean-label starch that builds viscosity.
1. HIGH PROTEIN TOMATO-BASIL SOUP
Our vegan High-Protein Tomato-Basil Soup is quick and naturally delicious. Apart from being high in proteins, it is also a source of fibre and enriched in vitamins, delivering additional nutritional benefits.
- Natural Flavours: Basil for natural freshness and tomato for sweet, authentic and aromatic debth.
2. HIGH PROTEIN CURRY-CORIANDER SOUP
This plant-based High Protein Curry-Coriander Soup has a bold taste and delivers immediate energy, thanks to its instant formula.
- Natural Flavours: Curry, Coriander, and Lemongrass flavours for a balanced flavour profile.
Consumer Preferences: A Shift Toward Clean Labels and Functional Foods
The market data tells us that clean-label claims dominate the soup category (Innova Category Review, 2024). Furthermore, claims like "Gluten-free," "Vegetarian," and "Organic" have seen steady growth. In fact, plant-based soups have grown by 37% over the past five years, reflecting the shift towards functional foods that align with modern dietary trends.
Fibre, as a functional ingredient, fits perfectly into this landscape. Just as consumers are gravitating toward plant-based, gluten-free, and organic products, they are also becoming more knowledgeable about the ingredients they consume for health benefits. The combination of clean labels and fibre could be the key to creating soups and sauces that align with current consumer preferences. Offering fibre-enriched options that are easy to prepare, vegan, and free of artificial additives could help capture the attention of health-conscious buyers.
IMCD SAUCES CONCEPTS:
1. BBQ CHILI SAUCE – Fibre-enriched for nutritional boost.
This delicious sauce combines the rich, smoky notes of barbecue with the bold heat of chili, all perfectly balanced by a hint of natural sweetness. Enhanced with fibre, it not only adds a robust, flavourful kick to your dishes but also provides an added nutritional benefit.
Concept Highlights:
- Fortified with Fibre: Nutritional benefit to support digestive health.
Quality Ingredients:
- Natural Colouring & Flavours: From natural sources, without artificial additives.
- Oligofructose: Delivers natural sweetness and contributes to sugar reduction.
- Corn & Citrus Fibres: Enhance the nutritional profile while maintaining smooth texture.
2. FAT REDUCED EGG-FREE MAYONNAISE – For health-conscious consumers.
This Egg-Free Mayonnaise with 50% Fat Reduction offers a rich, creamy texture and well-balanced flavour without compromising on mouthfeel. Formulated with specialized emulsifiers and stabilisers, it delivers the smooth consistency and indulgent taste of traditional mayonnaise while being a healthier option.
Concept Highlights:
- 50% Fat Reduced: Helpful for weight loss and calorie control.
Quality Ingredients:
- Citrus Fibres: Enhance the nutritional profile while maintaining smooth texture.
- Xanthan gum: Enhances stability.
- Natural Preservation: A clean label preservative that enhances umami taste.
Explore our fibre-fortified version of mayonnaise! Vegan and with a bold horseradish flavour: https://2ly.link/222CU
The Future of Soup & Sauces: Tapping into Fibre Enrichment
So, what does the future hold for fibre in your next soup and sauce formulations? With fibre playing a growing role in global food trends, it’s clear that fibre-enrichment has a promising future. Whether it's by offering traditional flavours with added health benefits or introducing innovative blends featuring exotic spices, soups and sauces that cater to gut health could resonate with today’s consumers.
Popular soup flavours like tomato, carrot, and chicken can easily accommodate fibre enrichment without altering their classic appeal. Moreover, with functional ingredients predicted to account for 15% of new soup product developments in the next five years, fibre is poised to become a key selling point.
Ready to Innovate? Let’s Make It Happen.
The opportunity for fibre-enrichment development is real—and it’s time to seize it. If you’re ready to take your formulations to the next level, IMCD is the key to extraordinary culinary creations. Want to see it in action? Get in touch with our expert technical team today and start exploring the endless possibilities you can create!
Log into your MyIMCD account to discover our new soup concept recipes!
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