BF-ESSE at FI Europe 2025: Ingredients, Innovation, and Real-World Insights
In early December, the BF-ESSE team attended Fi Europe 2025 in Paris, still the most important professional trade show in the global food and beverage ingredient calendar. More than 1,200 exhibitors, thousands of industry professionals, and countless samples made for three very intense and productive days.
Why We Went
Our objectives were concrete and production-focused:
Our objectives were concrete and production-focused:
- Identify new raw-material suppliers and technology partners that meet our strict standards on quality, traceability, and regulatory compliance.
- Hold in-person meetings with long-standing partners we have successfully collaborated with for over ten years – discussions on current projects, supply consistency, and future joint developments are always more effective face-to-face.
- Collect samples, technical data sheets, and formulation concepts for thorough laboratory evaluation back in Riga.
As a contract manufacturer focused on powdered food supplements in sachets, our scouting list was deliberately narrow and highly technical. We concentrated on:
- Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) and Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) – new grades and instantised versions
- Advanced instant creamers and fat-powder systems
- Next-generation emulsifiers and stabilisation systems
- Flavour-masking technologies (especially for high-protein and mineral-heavy formulas)
- Cutting-edge aroma systems optimised for dry blends and sachet applications
Key Takeaways from the Show Floor
Fi Europe once again proved that modern food supplements are built on sophisticated ingredient systems rather than single raw materials.
Proteins & functional alternatives
We examined numerous high-purity WPI/WPC variants and saw a clear trend toward fibre-enhanced protein substitutes that deliver better mouthfeel and reduced bitterness at competitive cost.
Flavours, cocoa, vanilla & spices
Cocoa appeared in every imaginable technical form – natural, alkalized, single-origin, and fat-reduced. Premium Madagascar vanilla and complex spice blends reminded us how much sensory work now happens at the ingredient level, long before the final product is filled.
Flavour-masking & sensory solutions
The latest generation of masking agents showed impressive results against protein off-notes, mineral aftertaste, and salt perception – critical for clean-taste, high-dose supplements.
Excipients – the invisible heroes
We spent considerable time on functional excipients that directly influence product performance:
Fi Europe once again proved that modern food supplements are built on sophisticated ingredient systems rather than single raw materials.
Proteins & functional alternatives
We examined numerous high-purity WPI/WPC variants and saw a clear trend toward fibre-enhanced protein substitutes that deliver better mouthfeel and reduced bitterness at competitive cost.
Flavours, cocoa, vanilla & spices
Cocoa appeared in every imaginable technical form – natural, alkalized, single-origin, and fat-reduced. Premium Madagascar vanilla and complex spice blends reminded us how much sensory work now happens at the ingredient level, long before the final product is filled.
Flavour-masking & sensory solutions
The latest generation of masking agents showed impressive results against protein off-notes, mineral aftertaste, and salt perception – critical for clean-taste, high-dose supplements.
Excipients – the invisible heroes
We spent considerable time on functional excipients that directly influence product performance:
- Rapid and controlled disintegrants
- Advanced sweeteners and salt-masking compounds
- Highly efficient emulsifiers for stable, lump-free instant drinks
- Taste-rounding agents and authentic “milky” profile enhancers
- Multifunctional fibres that improve both taste and nutritional profile
- As a closed B2B event, Fi Europe also offers a unique opportunity to see what competitors and leading brands are actually doing behind the marketing curtain. This benchmarking is invaluable when deciding which concepts are technically feasible and commercially realistic within a strict EU regulatory framework.
What Happens Next
We returned to Riga with suitcases full of samples and a clear testing roadmap:
A sincere thank you to all our existing partners for the productive meetings and to the new contacts we made – we are already following up.
If you are developing or planning a new powdered supplement and want to explore how the latest ingredient systems can improve taste, stability, or cost-in-use, our formulation team is ready to discuss your project.
- Full laboratory evaluation of shortlisted materials
- Side-by-side comparison with current approved ingredients
- Supplier audits and documentation review
A sincere thank you to all our existing partners for the productive meetings and to the new contacts we made – we are already following up.
If you are developing or planning a new powdered supplement and want to explore how the latest ingredient systems can improve taste, stability, or cost-in-use, our formulation team is ready to discuss your project.
BF-EssE team during the FI Europe in Paris - December 2025
Ready to turn cutting-edge ingredients into market-winning supplements? Whether you’re an established brand or a bold new entrepreneur, we’re here to bring your vision to life — with state-of-the-art manufacturing, premium raw materials, and formulations that actually taste good.
Let’s create the next category leader — together.
Let’s create the next category leader — together.