Beyond Sweetness
Where taste, texture & performance unite
Reducing sugar in foods and beverages isn’t easy. But it doesn’t have to mean compromising. Cargill brings a systematic approach, honed through decades of experience, to align your business goals with consumer expectations.
Insights Report
Digging into sweetness
Most consumers want less sugar. What motivates them, which sweeteners do they prefer, and how can your products stand out? Find out in our report.
Bringing application expertise to the table
Reduced-sugar products that are just as delicious, enjoyable…even preferred? Cargill know-how makes it possible.
A systematic approach to sugar reduction
Define the opportunity
Are you reformulating or creating something new? Who’s your consumer and what do they want? Are you targeting specific label claims? What are must-haves vs. nice-to-haves? What manufacturing considerations need to be factored in?
Identifying the “jobs to be done” is critical to sugar reduction success.
Cargill experts can help.
Strategic innovation starts with your goals
Our first step to reduced-sugar success is understanding your business goals.
Sugar reduction targets
Whether you’re aiming for a modest reduction or zero sugar, we can help you get there.
Label-friendly
Over a decade of research informs how sugar reduction ingredients translate into purchase intent.
Cost optimization
While reducing sugar, EverSweet® stevia sweetener can lower sweetener costs in some applications.
A complete sugar reduction toolkit
Leverage industry-leading ingredients, formulation expertise & reliable supply.
Stevia
Label-friendly sweeteners support sugar/calorie reduction & cost-optimization benefits. They can also offer flavor modulation when not utilized for sweetness.
Explore Cargill’s solutions:
Polyols
Zero-calorie sweeteners add body & mouthfeel; can complement high-intensity sweeteners.
Explore Cargill’s solutions:
Rare sugars
Allulose is a versatile sweetener that is 70% as sweet as sugar with 90% fewer calories than sugar, plus offers valuable functional benefits.
Explore Cargill’s solutions:
Pectin
Label-friendly, plant-based hydrocolloid that supports texture & body in reduced-sugar formulas; stabilizes proteins in acidified beverages.
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Soluble corn fiber
Label-friendly dietary fiber helps reduce sugar content without impacting taste/texture. At the right usage levels, may enable dietary fiber & prebiotic claims.
Explore Cargill’s solutions:
Explore more ingredients for sugar reduction
Sweet Innovation
Reduced-sugar concepts from Cargill
At the Cargill Food Innovation Center, food scientists and application experts are transforming trends, insights and expertise into real-life solutions.
Beverages
Peachy clean energy tea
Reduced-sugar, functional tea offers 50% less sugar per serving while trimming sweetener costs by up to 32%.*
Active Nutrition
S’mores-flavored stroopwafel
Indulgent-tasting bar delivers on protein & fiber while keeping calories in check.
Your Sugar Reduction Partner
Reimagine sweetness with Cargill.
Less sugar isn’t a compromise, it’s a choice. Together, we can develop formulations that taste great.
More from Cargill
Label-friendly solutions
Consumers increasingly seek food and beverage products with “friendlier” labels. Cargill has solutions.
TrendTracker for Food & Beverage
Consumers' relationship with food is evolving. Learn how current perceptions & behaviors indicate a more active engagement.
GLP-1 nutritional solutions
From concept to formulation to commercialization, Cargill offers robust solutions for manufacturers developing companion food & beverage products for GLP-1 user nutrition goals.
Beverage Concept
Peachy-clean energy tea
Energizes taste buds and your bottom line.
Highlights
- Reduces sugar & costs
EverSweet® stevia sweetener enables 50% less sugar* per serving & up to 32% sweetener cost savings compared to sugar (>$0.12 savings/12-pack)1 - Boosts energy & focus
50mg caffeine from black tea extract per serving - Quenches with intent
Naturally flavored; provides an excellent source of six essential B vitamins per serving
Ingredients
Nutrition information
Why it wins with consumers
- Value-conscious
32% sweetener cost savings possible with EverSweet® stevia sweetener vs. sugar1 - Avoiding artificial
25% define "healthy" as limited or no artificial ingredients2
*Prototype contains 14g total sugars per serving, compared to full-sugar version with 29g total sugars per serving. EverSweet® is a product of Avansya, a joint venture of Cargill and dsm-firmenich.
SOURCES:
1. Assumes sugar pricing of $0.50/lb. and EverSweet pricing of $150/kg, based on 3–5MT annual volume. 2. IFIC. Food & Health Survey, 2025.
Active Nutrition Concept
S'mores-flavored stroopwafel wafer
Indulgent-tasting bar delivers on protein & fiber while keeping calories in check.
Highlights
- Fuels with nutrients
20g of protein & 4g dietary fiber per serving deliver a satisfying snack post-workout or between meals - Surprisingly indulgent
EverSweet® stevia sweetener & Zerose® erythritol add sweetness with 2g of sugar per serving - Value-conscious
Confectionery compound lends rich espresso flavor impact at a lower cost-in-use than traditional chocolate
Ingredients
Nutrition information
Why it wins with consumers
-
Purpose-driven
83% of active nutrition users choose bars to satisfy hunger1 -
Standout solution
Better-for-you indulgence identified as an opportunity for differentiation2
EverSweet® is a product of Avansya, a joint venture of Cargill and dsm-firmenich. PURIS® Pea Protein is a licensed trademark of World Food Processing, LLC.
SOURCES:
1. Cargill ActiveIntel™ Attitude & Usage Study, 2025. 2. Ibid.
*Per FDA, foods labeled as “reduced sugar” must contain at least 25% less sugar than an appropriate reference food.
Some Cargill products are only approved for use in certain geographies, end uses, and/or at certain usage levels. It is the customer's responsibility to determine, for a particular geography, that (i) the Cargill product, its use and usage levels, (ii) the customer's product and its use, and (iii) any claims made about the customer's product, all comply with applicable laws and regulations.