From fruit expertise to future‑focused beverages

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Fruit has been at the heart of AUSTRIA JUICE for 90 years. Founded in 1936 as “Ybbstaler Obstverwertung” in Austria, the company has grown from its regional roots into an international B2B supplier to the food and beverage industry. Today, AUSTRIA JUICE supplies around 750 customers in more than 65 countries and operates 12 production sites across Austria, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine and China.

As one of the world’s leading producers of apple and berry juice concentrates, AUSTRIA JUICE combines decades of experience in fruit processing and raw-material sourcing with research and development capabilities. Its portfolio extends well beyond concentrates, encompassing beverage compounds, fruit wines, natural flavours and directly pressed juices. These ingredients and solutions are used across numerous applications, from fruit juices, soft drinks and functional beverages to beer and wine mixes, as well as for food applications, like dairy products, ice cream, bakery and confectionery.

Understanding the raw material is fundamental to creating high-quality fruit juice concentrates. AUSTRIA JUICE operates production facilities in fruit-growing regions and maintains long-term relationships with local suppliers. This proximity supports timely processing of the fruit and helps maintain traceability throughout the supply chain.

Fruit juice concentrates remain a central part of the portfolio, covering a broad spectrum of fruits including apple, pear, various berries, sour cherry, plum and red and white grape. But the company’s expertise in fruit also provides the foundation for another important area: natural flavour.

AUSTRIA JUICE produces FTNF, or “from the named fruit”, flavours from fresh fruits such as apple, pear, blackberry, raspberry, strawberry, red and black currant, cherry and blueberry. These fruit essences can be concentrated up to 5,000 times. The portfolio is complemented by compounded flavours ranging from familiar and exotic fruit profiles to herbal and nut notes, which can be tailored to individual customer requirements.

Today’s beverage landscape is increasingly diverse. Alongside established categories such as juices, nectars and carbonated beverages, manufacturers are exploring areas including functional beverages, reduced-sugar applications or low- and no-alcoholic alternatives, including beer- and fruit wine based concepts.

For AUSTRIA JUICE, responding to these developments means going beyond the supply of individual ingredients. From the idea to the finished beverage compound, product developers and flavourists work closely with the customer in the research and development centre and bring raw materials and single ingredients together for a beverage or flavour solution.

Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, for Austria Juice, innovation starts with understanding what customers want to achieve. Depending on the application, this may mean exploring sugar reduction, developing a particular fruit profile, responding to an emerging flavour trend or creating a beverage concept for a specific market. Therefore, the product character, flavour profile, functional ingredients and the overall beverage concept can be considered together to create a solution suited to the individual application.

AUSTRIA JUICE’s beverage compounds are used in non-alcoholic applications ranging from fruit juices and nectars to spritzers, energy, sports and functional drinks. In alcoholic beverages, applications include beer and wine mixes, fruit wines, cider and spirits.

Sugar reduction is also creating new opportunities in the juice category. AUSTRIA JUICE has developed a 100% fruit juice with 30% less sugar, using its patented fermentation technology. The approach offers beverage manufacturers a new way to develop reduced-sugar fruit juices while keeping the authenticity of the fruit juice.

Fruit wine represents another long-established field of expertise. Since 1982, the company’s competence centre in Bingen am Rhein, Germany, has produced fruit wines according to individual requirements. The portfolio includes berry wines and base wines for products such as sparkling fruit beverages, cider, cocktails, mulled wine and vinegar production.

From its roots in fruit processing to today’s versatile portfolio of ingredients and beverage solutions, AUSTRIA JUICE continues to build on what has shaped its business for 90 years: a deep understanding of fruit processing and its many possibilities. Drawing on this expertise, the company works with manufacturers to respond to changing market requirements and turn ideas into new flavour and beverage concepts. As a wholly owned subsidiary of the international AGRANA Group, AUSTRIA JUICE combines its heritage with global reach and strong beverage and flavour development capabilities.

Visit AUSTRIA JUICE at the Fi Europe at booth 31D80!