Ashland's innovative solutions for beverage on display at Food Ingredients China 2014

Shanghai, China - The increasingly dynamic marketplace challenges beverage producers to develop more complex formulations while balancing the ever-changing needs of consumers. As more diverse and unique products emerging in the market, the need for improved taste and texture will continue to drive ingredient innovation.

Ashland Specialty Ingredients, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc. (NY: ASH), is uniquely positioned to provide a broad range of solutions specifically designed for a variety of beverage systems including juices, teas, beers and wines. At the upcoming Food Ingredients China (FIC) to be held from March 25-27 in Shanghai, China, Ashland's experts will be available on stand 1N01/1P02 to share their latest developments in taste and texture for the beverage industry.

Ashland will also present the applied research on enhancing mouthfeel with cellulose gum in low- and no-sugar beverages at 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 25. As formulators navigate through consumer demands and product development issues, many are finding that sugar reduction, and the resulting loss of mouthfeel, continues to be a significant issue. With the growing awareness of obesity, Ashland has developed a solution tailored for sugar-free beverages without a watered-down mouthfeel.

"Replacing sugar in beverages with alternative sweeteners decreases the mouthfeel," said Phillip Yong Han, technical manager, Nutrition Specialties, China, Ashland Specialties Ingredients. "Cellulose gum is used to restore the desired mouthfeel and improve the overall sensory performance of reduced-sugar formulations while maintaining a lower-calorie profile."

"We are committed to helping our customers meet consumers' evolving needs," said William Zhao, director, Sales and Marketing, Ashland Specialty Ingredients, China. "Every success we've made in China inspires us to bring more innovative solutions to the market."

Ashland is a world leader in food and beverage ingredients and stabilizers, with our products meeting formulation customers' health, convenience, quality and processing requirements in major food and beverage applications. Ashland creates value through applications knowledge, market insight and a powerful product portfolio that includes: Aquacel™, Aqualon™, Aquasorb™, Blanose™ and Bondwell™ cellulose gum; Benecel™, Klucel™ and AeroWhip™ modified cellulose, Supercol™ guar gum and Polyclar™ stabilizers.

About Ashland Specialty Ingredients
Ashland Specialty Ingredients offers industry-leading products, technologies and resources for solving formulation and product performance challenges in key markets including personal care, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, coatings and energy. Using natural, synthetic and semi-synthetic polymers derived from plant and seed extract, cellulose ethers and vinyl pyrrolidones, Ashland Specialty Ingredients offers comprehensive and innovative solutions for today's demanding consumer and industrial applications. Key customers include pharmaceutical companies; makers of personal care products, food and beverages, and cosmetics; manufacturers of paint, coatings and construction materials; and oilfield service companies.

About Ashland Inc.
In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, food and beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical, tissue and towel, and water treatment. Visit ashland.com to see the innovations we offer through our four commercial units - Ashland Specialty Ingredients, Ashland Water Technologies, Ashland Performance Materials and Valvoline.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Media Relations
Helen Pei
+86 21 2402 4863
bpei@ashland.com