AAK Annual Report 2019

26 26 With the acquisition of Soya International (Europe) Ltd. in September, AAK broadened its ingredient portfolio and entered the speciality lecithin arena. The business currently trades under its new name, AAK Soya Inter- national Ltd., and operates out of Manchester, United Kingdom. Solutions Our solutions – from soy, sunflower, and rapeseed origin – cover a range of non-GMO speciality and semi-speciality lecithins. Lecithin is a key ingredient for many customers within our core segments, especially Chocolate & Confectionery Fats and Bakery, but also Dairy, Plant-based Foods, Personal Care, and Special Nutrition. Trends Lecithins are natural by-products from the processing of vegetable oils, and the only natural, clean label emulsi- fiers in the market. The global demand for specialized lecithin, such as organic, certified or plain non-GMO, are expected to rise as consumers look to verify the sustainability and traceability within food production. New products We have introduced our co-development approach within this segment which is a true differentiator as no other lecithin company can offer a similar approach together with oils and fats. We have high expecta- tions to provide solutions for both existing and new customers. Future growth The global speciality lecithin market is expected to show strong market growth on the back of global trends such as clean label declarations, natural and functional ingredients, and allergen-free. With new products and solutions driven by our customer co-development approach, we are well positioned to grow the lecithin business well above the market average. Natural Emulsifiers New ingredient in the AAK portfolio