As global consumer demand accelerates toward clean-label, plant-based, and recognizable ingredients, natural colorants are gaining prominence in food and beverage R&D pipelines. Beetroot red — derived from Beta vulgaris — is a widely used natural pigment that offers a vibrant, fuchsia-red hue ideal for a variety of mildly acidic formulations.
Recognized by regulatory bodies such as the FDA and EFSA, beetroot red is not only safe but also aligned with current labeling and transparency trends.
This article examines its technical profile and the leading global manufacturers offering commercial-grade alternatives to synthetic dyes, such as Allura Red (Red #40).
Why Replace Synthetic Red with Beetroot Red (Betanin)?
Synthetic reds, such as Red #40 and Carmine, have raised concerns due to potential allergenicity, consumer perception, and regulatory scrutiny. Beetroot red offers the following advantages:
1. Regulatory Acceptance: Approved in the U.S., EU, and many other jurisdictions (E162; ADI “not specified” by JECFA).
2. Labeling Flexibility: Can be declared as “vegetable juice (for color)” or “colored with beetroot.”
3. Consumer-Friendly: Vegan, non-GMO, and free from allergens.
4. Visual Appeal: Offers a vivid red to magenta hue in acidic pH applications (pH 3–7), ideal for fruit yogurts, beverages, and confections.
However, formulating with beetroot red requires careful attention to thermal and pH stability, as betanin degrades above 50–60°C and under high pH or oxidative stress.
Leading Manufacturers of Beetroot Red
1. Sensient Technologies (USA)
A leading global manufacturer of food colors and flavors, Sensient offers beet-derived reds as part of its extensive natural color portfolio. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Sensient operates worldwide and serves the food, beverage, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. The company emphasizes advanced technology for color stability and has supply chain control (including agronomy programs for sourcing beets).
Major food processors use Sensient’s beet colors for products like confections and dairy. They focus on innovation to improve heat and light stability of beet and other natural colors, and support customers with application-specific formulations. Sensient’s global reach (manufacturing on several continents) helps ensure a consistent supply of beetroot red to regional markets.
2. Oterra (Denmark)
Formerly Chr. Hansen’s Natural Colors division, Oterra, is now an independent company and the world’s leading supplier of natural colors. It produces the widest portfolio of natural pigments, including beetroot red. Oterra serves 100+ countries across all segments of the food and beverage industry. The company has acquired other specialists to bolster capacity.
For beet, it benefits from Chr. Hansen’s legacy expertise in vegetable-based reds. Oterra emphasizes high-purity concentrates with minimal off-flavor. It has also worked on crop breeding to develop beets with higher pigment content (a strategy also seen at some suppliers like Seneca ).
With multiple production sites in Europe, South America, and Asia, Oterra can supply beet color globally. They uphold EU regulatory standards (E162) and support customers with technical guidance on using beet color in various applications. Due to its history and Danish roots, sustainability and traceability are part of Oterra’s platform.
3. GNT Group (Netherlands)
GNT is a family-owned pioneer in natural coloring concentrates, known for its BERRY® range of “coloring foods.”
Founded in 1978, GNT focuses on concentrates made exclusively from edible fruits and vegetables, beetroot being one of their key raw materials. GNT’s beetroot red is typically a concentrated beet juice or puree that can color confections, beverages, dairy, and more.
EXBERRY beetroot red is often labeled simply “Beetroot Concentrate” (since it’s essentially just food). GNT serves over 2,000 food and beverage companies worldwide, including many of the largest multinationals.
Headquartered in Mierlo, NL, with offices in 75 countries, GNT has a global reach. The company has ambitious sustainability targets for 2030 and integrates the entire supply chain to ensure traceability and stable prices. Major customers use GNT’s beet and carrot-based reds to replace synthetic reds without adding any artificial-sounding ingredients on labels.
4. DDW – The Color House (USA)
Based in Kentucky (now part of Givaudan), DDW is a historic color manufacturer known for caramel colors and a broad range of natural hues. DDW produces beet color concentrates and powders among its offerings. The company has production facilities in North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia, enabling local supply.
DDW has worked on odor- and flavor-removal technologies to make beet extracts that impart color without earthy beet flavor. They also blend beet with other natural reds (like carrot or berry extracts) to achieve custom shades. DDW’s clients include manufacturers of beverages and confectionery.
Since being acquired by Givaudan in 2022, DDW’s natural color portfolio (including beetroot red) is part of Givaudan’s integrated ingredients solutions for global food industry clients. Givaudan now can offer flavors, colors, and other ingredients together – a trend in industry consolidation.
5. Seneca Foods (USA)
Seneca Foods is one of the largest producers of beet color concentrate. Better known for canned and frozen vegetables, Seneca leveraged its access to beets to create a natural color business. “Seneca is the largest producer of Beet Color Concentrate”, supplying a naturally sourced red dye as an alternative to synthetics.
They have innovated by breeding beet varieties with extra-high pigment levels. Seneca’s beet color is sold to food manufacturers for use in everything from sauces and dressings to fruit snacks.
Production is located in Wisconsin and New York, near areas with significant beet farming. By vertical integration (growing and processing the beets), Seneca maintains quality and consistency. The company highlights this as part of its sustainability and farm-to-ingredient approach. Major food companies seeking a domestic U.S. source of beet color often turn to Seneca for their needs.
6. Doehler (Germany)
Döhler is a global ingredients provider based in Darmstadt, Germany, offering technology-driven natural ingredient systems. It produces natural colors, including beetroot red, often as part of integrated solutions. Dohler serves the food and beverage industry worldwide and is known for innovative blends.
The company’s broad portfolio covers natural flavors, colors, health ingredients, and more. Döhler’s beet color offerings range from simple concentrates to E-number-free color solutions (they’ve developed coloring blends from beet, malt, spirulina, etc., that can be declared as food ingredients).
They emphasize stability and have patented processes to improve color performance. Döhler operates in over 130 countries and frequently collaborates with clients to co-develop products. With its “ingredient systems” approach, Döhler might supply a turnkey mix for, say, a red soda that includes beet color along with stabilizers to keep it bright. Quality and safety are a focus, and Döhler meets rigorous European standards for all its colors.
7. Naturex (France)
Now part of Givaudan, Naturex has a rich legacy in plant extracts. It produces beetroot color among many others. With headquarters in Avignon, France, Naturex has developed expertise in sourcing botanicals globally and gently extracting pigments. Their beet color can be found under names like “Vegex Red” and is used in bakery fillings, confections, and beverages.
Naturex, as a Givaudan brand, continues to serve customers who want natural color solutions with clean-label declarations. The company historically partnered with farmers for root crops, ensuring supply chain transparency.
Under Givaudan, Naturex’s R&D focuses on enhancing light/heat stability of naturals, so their beet extracts often have improved stability (sometimes achieved by blending with other anthocyanins). Major beverage companies in EMEA have used Naturex beet color in place of Red 40. Naturex also offers formulation support to adjust pH or add antioxidants to protect the beet color during use.
8. Roha (India)
Roha Dyechem is a Mumbai-based color manufacturer with a global presence in 22 countries. Traditionally a leader in synthetic dyes, Roha has expanded its Natracol range of natural food colors. Beetroot red is one of the Natracol offerings, providing a vibrant pink-red.
Roha leverages production facilities in India (and also in Europe and the US) to make and distribute beet and other colors worldwide. The company serves the food, beverage, pharma, and personal care sectors.
It has 14 manufacturing plants and 14 application labs worldwide, enabling local customization of colors for regional products. Roha emphasizes innovation – for example, it has developed a carmine replacement for dairy applications using a blend of beet and other natural colors.
They also tailor stability solutions, like emulsified beet for beverages. As a large Indian MNC, Roha ensures its natural colors meet diverse regulatory standards (US FDA, EU, etc.).
The company’s global clients include confectionery giants and dairy product manufacturers. Roha’s quick adoption of natural colors shows even traditional dye companies are pivoting to naturals; today, Roha markets itself as a leading supplier of both synthetic and natural, clean-label colors worldwide.
9. Kanegrade (UK)
Kanegrade is a UK-based supplier of natural ingredients, including a range of natural food colorants. They source beetroot concentrate and beet powder to provide red hues to food manufacturers in Europe and beyond.
Kanegrade often positions its beet color as an economical alternative to carmine or Red 40 in foods where a pinkish-red is desired. They serve industries from bakery to beverages.
Being a distributor and formulator (rather than a primary extractor), Kanegrade focuses on quality control and blending. They ensure the beet powder is free of flavor and is standardized in color strength for consistent use. Major European bakery and candy makers purchase beet color through Kanegrade for clean-label reformulations.
The company also offers technical support for replacing FD&C reds with beet, advising on pH (they note that beet works well in pH > 4 products, such as icing or gummies). Kanegrade’s broader portfolio (fruit powders, flavors) complements its color supply, allowing one-stop ingredient solutions.
10. BioconColors (Peru & Netherlands)
BioconColors is a natural color producer with roots in Peru (and sales offices in Amsterdam and Qingdao). While Biocon is especially known for cochineal carmine and annatto, they also produce other vegetable colors, including red beet.
BioconColors has decades of experience (founded in 1983) in formulating coloring foodstuffs and natural pigments. They often supply color houses as well as end manufacturers.
With production in Lima, they source local Peruvian beets to make beet juice concentrate. The company emphasizes flexibility and custom blends – for example, creating a beet-based color with specified hue intensity for a client’s beverage line.
BioconColors is also attuned to regulatory variations: they can adjust their product (e.g., as a “coloring food” vs an additive) depending on the market. By having a foot in both the raw material origin (Peru) and distribution hub (Europe), BioconColors provides reliable supply and customer support.
Their commitment to quality management and independent status allows quick response to customer needs. They are part of a niche but important group of specialist natural color firms.
Conclusion
Beetroot red (betanin) offers a compelling, regulatory-compliant, and consumer-trusted alternative to synthetic red colorants across multiple food and beverage formats. With global suppliers investing in R&D to improve their stability, today’s beet-based pigments can be tailored for a variety of product environments — from refrigerated dairy to shelf-stable confections.
Clean-label formulators now have access to a wide range of standardized beet solutions supported by robust technical guidance, making beetroot red a wise choice in the natural color toolbox.
