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PRODUCT OF THE YEAR PRODUCT OF THE YEAR CATEGORY: OTW Natural Sweetener WINNER: Lakanto Australia, Monkfruit Sweetener, $10.50 Lakanto Australia provides a range of natural, gluten-free, diabetic- and keto- friendly products, including the now award-winning Monkfruit Sweetener. General Manager at Lakanto ANZ Leon McIndoe discusses current trends across the natural sweetener category. “Consumers are actively looking for ways to reduce their added sugar, hidden in so many food items used in recipes at home, and when dining out,” he said. “Lakanto is growing our range and availability of low-carb, keto- and diabetic-friendly products to help consumers replace their sugar without compromising on taste.” Looking specifically at the 2021 Product of the Year award winner, Monkfruit derives its sweetener from antioxidants in the fruit’s flesh. The team at Lakanto aims to help Aussies eat #ResponsiblySweet, using monk fruit grown using the same ancient and traditional methods of the monks that give the fruit its name. “Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener has 93 per cent fewer calories than sugar, zero net carbs, zero glycaemic impact and no fibre, maltodextrin, stevia, artificial sweeteners or flavourings,” Mr McIndoe said. “Lakanto’s taste profile is nearly identical to that of sugar. The extremely sweet monk fruit extract has been blended with (non-GMO) erythritol to produce a 1:1 heat stable replacement which cooks, bakes and tastes just like sugar, with no bitter aftertaste.” After launching only a year ago, the team at Lakanto Australia are excited and humbled by the win. “This award confirms we took the right action and that consumers want Lakanto to be available here,” Mr McIndoe said. “We look forward to making the products our community want available everywhere they want to buy them and providing the support they need. “This award will help us increase our distribution of our core and expanding range of Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener products to be available for more consumers.” CATEGORY: OTW Healthy Snack Food WINNER: Human Bean Co, Faba Bean Snack Range, $1 (single pack), $5.99 (multi-pack) “The Human Bean Co is a sustainable plant-based protein snack,” Chief Bean Officer Angus Woods said, adding that the range is “100 per cent Aussie grown, made and owned from farm to bag”. The business began in the Queensland town of Goondiwindi, which Mr Woods says is in a region of Australia that strives for excellence. “This award will assist in promoting the goodness of Australian legumes and supporting locally made products,” he said. 30 RETAIL WORLD NOV, 2020 TO PAGE 32 2021winners