Brazil’s Concepta Ingredients is part of the Sabará Group and specialises in natural and technological solutions developed in accordance with the Bio Abundance Program. Based on innovation and research, the company offers organic and conventional ingredients, with a portfolio of technological inputs from international partners and ingredients from biodiversity to meet the most specific demands of the industries in which it operates.
Concepta Ingredients’ new factory, located in Valinhos, in the interior of São Paulo, is strategically located in a region with a strong logistics structure (motorways and airports) and occupies an area of 7,800m², combining the latest in industrial technology, from production to quality control.
André Tomazelli Sabará has worked at holding Sabará Group for 16 years and currently holds the position of ESG, Marketing and Supply Chain director at the same company, and also Commercial Director at the business unit Concepta Ingredients.
Can you highlight some of the unique raw materials and properties of your ingredient solutions for plant-based products? What sets your products apart in terms of texture, taste, and functionality?
Our portfolio includes raw materials and exclusive solutions for the plant-based products market, such as flours, butters and oils. A highlight is the Arboreto Premium Protein range, which is 100% national, gluten-free, dairy-free, GMO-free and soy-free. These ingredients are of plant origin and offer high adaptability and palatability, providing superior nutrition.
In applications, the Arboreto range stands out for leaving no aftertaste, as well as having good liquid absorption, excellent dispersibility, a pleasant texture and increased formulation yields. It is a versatile ingredient for a wide range of applications and segments.
Can you share details about any recent or upcoming product launches or innovations that Concepta Ingredients is planning, and how these align with current trends in the plant-based food industry?
Consumers’ changing lifestyles and the high demand for nutritious and healthy food are driving the adoption of products of natural origin, with positive socio-environmental impacts. These foods offer an innovative approach for those seeking a healthier diet, without sacrificing taste and quality. In response to this trend, Concepta Ingredients has studied new plant protein sources to meet this emerging demand.
“When working with biodiversity products, it is impossible to separate social responsibility from business practices”
Our Arboreto Premium Protein range opens up a vast field for innovation and product development that attracts consumers in search of a more conscious and sustainable diet. As part of the food upcycling movement, our proposal aims to mitigate waste by reusing the entire production chain and ensuring zero waste production.
You will be exhibiting at this year’s PBWE. What products and innovations will you be presenting to trade visitors?
In the 2024 edition, the company is launching its Arboreto Premium Protein range, with the highlight being the plant-based protein active PRO 1000G, derived from the sesame oil extraction process. The product has characteristics that make it an excellent nutritional profile, as it is rich in protein, fiber, calcium and a source of essential amino acids.
Another attraction prepared by Concepta Ingredients is the presentation of Arboreto Premium Protein PRO 1000GB, which innovatively combines the benefits of sesame, derived from the upcycling process of oil extraction, and babaçu, an ingredient in our portfolio that is part of the Bio Abundance Program, aimed at promoting the sustainable use of natural resources and the development of the communities involved. Arboreto Premium Protein PRO 1000GB is ideal for use in pasta, baked goods, snacks, cereals and hot drinks.
Could you share an example of successful plant-based product development using your ingredients?
We are currently developing, together with major multinational clients, products in the bakery sector, such as sweet cookies using babaçu flour; in the beverage sector, such as powdered preparations using Pro 1000 GB; and in the area of ingredient innovation, such as replacing glucose powder with babaçu flour.
The plant-based ingredients market is becoming increasingly competitive. What unique strategies does Concepta Ingredients employ to differentiate itself from other players in the industry?
Our main difference is that we have a product with a high protein content and all the other benefits, adding babaçu (an Amazonian species) with its benefits and the Bio Abundance Program with a social and environmental impact, where we ensure that through projects designed for each community, and through the purchase of inputs, the families involved receive fair values per kilogram of product collected, and when setting up agro-industries, the purchase takes into account the added value of local production.
Concepta Ingredients’ main strategy for differentiating itself in the competitive vegetable ingredients market is the integration of sustainability combined with innovation in all our launches. A highlight is Arboreto Premium Protein PRO 1000GB, an ingredient that delivers a high protein content, enriched with the unique benefits of babaçu.
In addition to its nutritional advantages, babaçu is integrated into our Bio Abundance Program, which promotes positive socio-environmental impacts. Our program ensures the sustainability of the production chain and supports local communities, reinforcing our commitment to ethical and responsible practices. These initiatives not only improve the quality of our products, but also demonstrate our commitment to environmental conservation and socio-economic development, encouraging a fair and sustainable value chain.
From your perspective, what are the emerging trends in plant-based product development? How are you adapting to these trends?
We are continually looking for innovations that improve performance and offer a complete nutritional profile, superior functional properties and a pleasant taste. We invest in new plant protein sources and technologies to develop products that combine all these attributes with indulgent textures and flavors. In addition, we constantly look for native and sustainable ingredients that promote environmental preservation and the development of local communities, ensuring complete traceability of the entire production chain.
How is Concepta Ingredients incorporating social responsibility into its business practices, and can you highlight any specific initiatives or projects aimed at promoting sustainability and ethical practices?
When working with biodiversity products, it is impossible to separate social responsibility from business practices. Concepta Ingredients therefore attaches indicators of the socio-economic improvement of its community suppliers to its products. These projects are tailor-made for each supplier community, with the aim of contributing to their independence and local development. We currently have more than 6,400 families involved in this chain and more than 570,000 hectares of native vegetation conserved through the generation of income from non-timber forest products that necessarily require living, healthy vegetation.
One of our highlights is our work with babaçu flour, an excellent example of the development of products from Brazilian biodiversity, which brings visibility and the promotion of resources for conservation and knowledge of the biomes from which babaçu originates. Our babaçu flour project, which has a female leadership in the community, has 60 families involved and more than 700 hectares conserved.
