The Global Growth for Stevia; Sunwin Stevia's (OTCQB: SUWN) Distribution Partner WILD Flavors Sees Positive Results One Year After the EU Grants Approval

POINT ROBERTS, WA--(Marketwire - Dec 6, 2012) - Investorideas.com, an investor research portal specializing in sector research for independent investors, issues a snapshot for the global stevia market and stocks within the sector, including Sunwin Stevia International, Inc. (OTCQB: SUWN).

Recently the President of the International Stevia Council (ISC) said Stevia had "fundamentally changed the sweetener market. "Lauren Bandy, Ingredients Research Analyst with Euromonitor International told Investorideas.com, "There is no doubt that stevia has shaken the high intensity sweeteners market, most of all because it is sourced naturally. This puts it at a great advantage to other high intensity sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose, which are chemically derived. It still is relatively expensive compared to other sweeteners such as sugar, and only represents 2% of the high intensity sweeteners market in volume terms in 2012, although this has doubled since 2011."

She went on to note, "I think stevia manufacturers will continue to target large, multinational brands, as they are at the moment. Stevia offers food and beverage manufacturers a way to reduce the sugar content of their products in a more natural way. Health and wellness is a key trend in the food and beverage sector and stevia is perfectly positioned to capitalize on the growth of the better-for-you market."

According to Foodingredientsfirst.com, "One year after the European Union granted approval for steviolglycosides to be marketed, WILD Flavors (Sunwin Stevia's (OTCQB: SUWN) distribution partner) has noted positive interim results. The great-taste expert has worked with customers to create a number of stevia-sweetened products that have been market successes -- everything from beverages to candies."

Sunwin (OTCQB: SUWN) began an expansion production project in April 2012 in anticipation of an improvement in demand in the coming years as the use of stevia as a healthy low calorie sweetener continues to increase across the globe. Sunwin has begun trial production of its new lines and anticipates its added production capabilities to be fully operational in the first quarter of calendar 2013.

Lauren Bandy reports, "Western Europe is the world's largest packaged food market in value terms and was worth just under US$600 billion in 2012. Since its EU approval, stevia suppliers have really been tapping into this lucrative market. Euromonitor shows that stevia consumption in Western Europe in volume terms is forecast to grow by 50% over 2012-2016, from 190 tonnes in 2012 to nearly 300 tonnes in 2016.

"A number of key brands have since launched stevia containing products in Europe - for example in France and Ireland, the Coca Cola Company has reformulated Sprite using stevia, reducing sugar content by 30%."

Health Canada just gave stevia the okay to become an ingredient in mainstream food and beverages. PureCircle Limited, one of the world's leading producer of high purity stevia ingredients for the global food and beverage industry and GLG Life Tech say they have been ramping up for the anticipated Canadian approval according to a recent article in foodnavigator-usa.com. 

In terms of potential obstacles Lauren Bandy said there are a few to overcome. "India is the most significant market and the last of the BRIC countries not to permit stevia as a sweetening ingredient. Countries in Latin America and Asia Pacific - which also have the fastest growing packaged food and soft drink markets globally - have been using stevia for many years.

"The other hurdle to stevia's global success is the controversy surrounding its natural status, a debate which is stronger in Europe than America. Because stevia has an E number (E960) and because steviol glycosides - the sweet compounds - have to be extracted from the plant and processed, some consumers consider stevia as 'just another additive'.

"Stevia's bitter aftertaste also remains an obstacle, although this is a highly researched and rapidly developing area and is unlikely to affect its market penetration; Euromonitor forecast that stevia will have an annual growth rate of 23% globally over 2011-2016, in volume terms."

To address any concerns with taste, WILD's Sunwin Stevia™ (OTCQB: SUWN) brand provides beverage manufacturers one-source solutions: high-quality Stevia extracts in varying Reb Alevels plus WILD's natural Taste Optimization Technology.

The natural Taste Optimization Technology eliminates the characteristic licorice nuance and partly bitter aftertaste of Stevia. Manufacturers can therefore create delicious tasting, naturally sweetened products with the natural sweetening system Stevia, ranging from near waters, tea drinks or carbonated soft drinks, to fruit juice-containing drinks and beer mixes. WILD's Sunwin Stevia™ allows for great-tasting calorie-reduced, low calorie or calorie-free varieties, according to customer demands and market requirements.

About WILD Flavors GmbH
WILD Flavors GmbH, based in Zug, Switzerland, is one of the world's leading privately-owned manufacturers of natural ingredients for the food and beverage industry. WILD Flavors provides specific flavors, colors, and ingredients as well as innovative and great tasting concepts through application expertise and technological advancements. www.wildflavors.com or www.wild.de

About Sunwin Stevia International, Inc. (OTCQB: SUWN)
Sunwin Stevia International, Inc. engages in the areas of zero calorie, all natural sweeteners (Sunwin Stevia™ Extracts). As an industry leader in agricultural processing, Sunwin has built an integrated global firm with the sourcing and production capabilities to meet the needs of consumers throughout the world. For more info about Sunwin, please visit http://www.sunwininternational.com

Lauren Bandy works as Ingredients Research Analyst with Euromonitor International. She directly contributes to the content and quality of Euromonitor International's Food & Drinks Ingredients research, with a special focus on health ingredients, sweeteners, and cocoa ingredients. Lauren monitors key industry trends and forecasts and is responsible for the writing of articles and analysis, which provide detailed insight into the state of the industry. In her current role at Euromonitor International, Lauren uses her expert knowledge of the ingredients industry to create quality data and insight on a range of topics including key market trends and opportunities, regulation and innovative ingredients.

Lauren holds a degree in Nutrition from King's College, London.

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Article source: http://www.foodingredientsfirst.com/news/Wild-Sees-Positive-Interim-Results-One-Year-After-Stevia-Approval.html

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