ORLANDO, FLA. — Ingredion, Inc. is seeking to double down on clean label and private label as growth drivers for its Texture and Healthful Solutions business, said Patrick Kalotis, executive vice president of Texture and Healthful Solutions at Westchester, Ill.-based Ingredion.

In a Feb. 17 presentation at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) conference in Orlando, Kalotis said Ingredion’s technology delivers natural, indulgent texture while simplifying the label.

“If I can put it simply, clean label means that when we’re transforming raw materials, such as milling corn, we are doing so in a way that the alteration of the product is simple enough that it can be labeled essentially as its basic self,” he said. “We can do this through starches, fibers, protein isolates, depending on the product or the solution we’re looking to deliver for our customers.”

He pointed to the company’s Novation starch as an example.

“It’s a great example because the raw material is effectively citrus rinds,” he said. “What we do is we grind, we boil, and we dry that. And then, we extract the citrus fiber. The ingredient can simply be labeled as citrus fiber.”

Kalotis said the process is attractive to consumers and customers looking for clean label options. And that demand is helping Ingredion, as the company expanded its margin about 200 basis points in the clean label space during 2025, he said.

Pivoting to private label, Kalotis said consumers continue to seek more value, prioritizing affordability.

“More than 50% of our consumers are switching to cheaper brands to manage that economic uncertainty and some of the affordability challenges that they’re experiencing,” he said. “As a consequence of that, what we’re seeing is foodservice and private label growth above other food and beverage channels.”

Digging deeper into private label, Kalotis identified five trends that are driving the value: affordability, convenience, clean label, enhanced nutrition and functionality. He added sustainability is also an emerging trend, particularly as Ingredion seeks to help its retailers reformulate. 

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