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

Dairy is the most commonly under-consumed food group in South Africa after fruit and vegetables, with availability and cost the main barriers to consumption, Tate & Lyle said.

Developed using Tate & Lyle’s stabilizers and functional systems, the new range of yogurt-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 yogurt 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 stabilizing 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 stabilizers and functional systems used to deliver nutrition, shelf stability and great taste at an affordable price,”​ Van der Berg said.

“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 stabilizer 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 capitalize on resale opportunities.”​

Operations in Africa

Tate & Lyle has been working with customers in Africa for 10 years, supplying ingredients and 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 stabilization and ensure foods and beverages maintain their texture.