Food innovation does not always begin in a laboratory. In many cases, it starts by observing a change in the market: a new format, a different texture, a new way of consuming a food product or a combination of ingredients that was not previously common.
That is why, for us, major international trade fairs offer value that goes far beyond commercial relationships. They also allow us to observe where the food industry is heading and identify needs that may later become new developments.
This is one of the reasons why we will be attending SIAL Paris 2026 as visitors, one of the leading international events for the food industry. For us, visiting a trade fair of this scale is an opportunity to discover new products, formats and concepts from a technical perspective.
As a breadcrumb manufacturer, our focus is not limited to the ingredient itself. We are interested in observing what food manufacturers are developing and asking ourselves what new functions the coating will need to provide in order to support those products.
SIAL Paris as an International Observatory for Food Innovation
SIAL brings together manufacturers, distributors, retailers, startups and professionals from different markets. This international dimension makes the fair a particularly interesting space for identifying new concepts and observing how food categories are evolving.
For those of us working in ingredient development, this perspective is especially relevant.
A product that appears in one market may take months or years to reach others. Observing different concepts and markets in the same place allows us to identify signals that may not yet be evident in our immediate environment.
In our case, this observation is particularly relevant because breadcrumbs are used in a wide variety of applications.
Meat, fish, vegetables, croquettes, snacks and prepared foods may require different coating solutions. And when the final product changes, the requirements that the coating must meet can change as well.
That is why, when we visit a trade fair such as SIAL, we do not simply identify new products. We try to understand the need behind each concept.
What We Observe as Breadcrumb Manufacturers When Looking for New Opportunities
Visiting an international trade fair is not only about identifying new product launches.
It also involves analysing the needs behind those products.
A new food product may be designed to deliver a specific texture. Another may aim to offer faster preparation. A third may target consumers looking for less oil or formulations adapted to specific preferences.
Each of these decisions can create a different challenge for the coating system.
Some of the aspects we are particularly interested in observing include:
- New product formats and geometries.
- Different texture experiences.
- The evolution of prepared foods.
- New consumption occasions.
- Products designed for oven or air fryer preparation.
- Premium and gourmet concepts.
- New formulations and nutritional profiles.
- Solutions aimed at different international markets.
The key is not to focus only on the surface-level trend.
Our question is what technical implications that trend may have.
From a Consumer Trend to a Technical Need
Market observation becomes truly valuable when we can translate it into a specific development requirement.
Imagine a product designed to offer an especially crispy experience. The trend does not end with consumers seeking greater crispiness.
For us, as a breadcrumb manufacturer, the next question is different:
What type of coating structure can help create that experience?
From there, we can analyse variables such as particle size, particle structure, adhesion, behaviour during cooking or texture stability after preparation.
The same applies to other trends.
If demand increases for oven-ready products, the coating system must perform under cooking conditions that differ from those of a traditional frying application.
If a manufacturer develops a new plant-based product, the characteristics of its surface may require the coating system to be adapted.
And if a premium product appears, visual appearance may become even more important.
This connection between trend, product and technical performance is precisely where our experience as a breadcrumb manufacturer can add value.
Coating as an Element of Product Innovation
For a long time, coating could be considered a secondary component of certain food products.
Today, it can become one of their main differentiating features.
Consumers do not only identify the main ingredient. They also perceive the colour, outer appearance, texture and sound of the product when they bite into it.
In certain categories, these characteristics form part of the experience that the manufacturer wants to create.
That is why innovating in a breaded product does not necessarily mean completely changing its formulation.
Sometimes, changing the coating can transform the perception of the product.
A different particle size can create another texture. A Panko-style structure can provide greater visual volume. A specific formulation can be adapted for oven cooking. A particular finish can help differentiate a premium product.
Coating therefore becomes another tool within the innovation process.
The Importance of Observing Different Markets
One of SIAL’s major advantages is precisely its international dimension.
For us, this diversity broadens our perspective on how breaded and coated foods are evolving.
Preferences regarding texture, format, level of crispiness or preparation methods can vary from one country to another. Distribution channels and manufacturers’ requirements also differ.
For this reason, a solution that works for one specific application cannot necessarily be transferred directly to another market.
Internationalisation requires the ability to adapt the solution to the application and its context, rather than simply exporting an existing product.
This way of observing the market is especially important when we work with clients developing products for different countries or distribution channels.
From Observation to Food Development
The real value of attending a trade fair such as SIAL does not end when we leave the exhibition centre.
The observations gathered can become questions for our development teams:
- What new applications are emerging?
- Which textures are gaining prominence?
- Which products require new preparation methods?
- Which coating characteristics could help improve these concepts?
From there, another process begins: studying the application, carrying out tests, selecting raw materials, adjusting particle sizes and validating product performance.
In other words, the trend is the starting point; technical development is the next step.
This connection between market, development and application is part of the way we understand the role of a breadcrumb manufacturer within the food industry.
What This Means for Food Manufacturers
For companies developing new breaded products, working with a breadcrumb manufacturer with the ability to adapt can help make the development process easier.
Our experience allows us to analyse the coating from the earliest stages of the project, taking into account the characteristics of the food product, the production process and the sensory result that needs to be achieved.
The earlier these variables are incorporated into the development process, the greater the chances of finding the right solution for the application.
This is particularly relevant when the manufacturer wants to differentiate its product through:
- Specific textures.
- Distinctive visual finishes.
- New formats.
- Oven or air fryer preparation.
- Premium products.
- New food categories.
- Applications aimed at different markets.
Early collaboration makes it possible to analyse breadcrumbs as part of the product design, rather than simply as a raw material added at the end.
We Will Be Visiting SIAL Paris to Follow Food Innovation Closely
At Frumen, we will attend SIAL Paris 2026 as visitors, not as exhibitors, to observe first-hand how the international food industry is evolving and to stay close to the trends that may shape future developments.
During our visit, we will analyse new products, formats and concepts from a technical perspective and look for opportunities that could be translated into future solutions.
Because, as a breadcrumb manufacturer, understanding where the food industry is heading also helps us anticipate the solutions that manufacturers may need in the future.
For us, SIAL will be an opportunity to observe, analyse and transform those market signals into new development questions.
Because before developing a solution, you first need to understand what the product is trying to achieve.
Are You Developing a New Food Product and Need to Adapt Its Coating?
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