20 Years of Frusano

Frusano was founded as a personal solution to fructose intolerance.

The very first products were fair trade fruit spreads made from papaya and calamansi — fruits selected for their naturally low fructose content.

What began with just 10 kg quickly grew to over 100 kg due to demand. Shortly after the first chococlate was developed, the line grew with the addition of Dark Chocolate, White Chocolate, Amaranth and Hazelnut Chocolates and our beloved Milk Chocolate Puffed Rice Bites. 

Frusano refined its product philosophy to clearly differentiate from conventional alternatives, strengthening its focus on transparency, ingredient selection and fructose-conscious nutrition.

That same year, major retailers such as Kaufland joined our journey.

Frusano expanded beyond sweet products with the launch of its Ketchup. Conventional ketchup often contains high levels of fructose, making it unsuitable for many people with fructose intolerance.

Today it remains one of our best-selling products, carefully produced to stay reliably within low-fructose limits.

Frusano presented its products at BioFach for the first time, gaining visibility within the international free-from and specialty food community.

Frusano reached an important retail milestone when dm became a customer, making the Frusano range easily accessible in stores across Germany.

The year also saw the launch of Fili Bears Gummy Bears, developed especially for children, and the introduction of our Spelt Butter Cookies, which would go on to become a customer favorite.

With steady growth, Frusano moved into a new office space to support its expanding team.

Frusano expanded into the US and Hugarian markets and secured listings with REWE, strengthening its national and international presence.

Frusano entered the snack bar category in 2017 with its Dark Chocolate Granola Bar, soon followed by the Pumpkin Seed Bar and Chai Latte Protein Bar. While these early bars are no longer part of today’s range, they were important steps in developing convenient, fructose-conscious snacks.

The experience gained from these first recipes helped pave the way for later favorites such as our Cream ’n’ Crunchy Double Choc and Peanut Bars, as well as the Cranberry & Chia Granola Bar.

After strong development in the Spanish market, a local office opened. Frusano products also became available at Globus.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for fructose-conscious foods rose sharply as more customers relied on online shopping and home delivery.

Strict quarantine rules repeatedly reduced the available workforce, and at times only two people remained in the office managing the entire operation.

Despite these challenges, the team worked around the clock to keep orders moving and ensure customers could continue receiving their Frusano products.

The year also marked further growth in Spain, where Bioconsum became one of the first Spanish retailers to offer Frusano products, helping expand availability in the market.

Frusano’s cookie range — including the popular Chocolate Spelt Sandwich Cookies, Gluten Free Blonde Chocolate Sandwich Cookies and Spelt Butter Cookies — is the result of extensive product development. Achieving the perfect crunch while ensuring the cookies and their fillings remain stable during transport required years of testing and refinement.

Even today, some cookie recipes continue to evolve after more than a decade of development — a clear example of Frusano’s commitment to creating reliable and delicious low-fructose snacks.

In 2022, global disruptions following the pandemic and the war in Ukraine caused severe shortages and price volatility for many key raw materials.

Frusano responded by refining recipes, adapting ingredients and finding creative solutions to ensure customers could continue enjoying their favourite products while maintaining the company’s strict fructose-conscious standards.

Despite these challenges, Frusano continued to grow internationally. In Spain, Herbolario Navarro joined as a retail partner, further expanding the availability of Frusano products.

Our first Chocolate Santa Figures and Easter Bunnies proved difficult to transport without damage. In response, Frusano developed Christmas and Easter relief-style chocolates, which keep the festive spirit while travelling much more reliably.

The change showed how thoughtful product design helps ensure treats arrive just as delightful as when they leave our care.

The Frusano brand identity was refined with new product icons and clearer packaging and experienced growth through partnerships in the UK and Australia.

Based on extensive customer feedback, Frusano launched Corn Sugar Plus with Maltose and refined its Hazelnut Spread to better meet real-life baking and nutrition needs.

Distribution in Spain continued growth with retail partner Veritas.

To celebrate our 20th birthday, we’ve created a special edition of our Frusano Secco. The festive glass bottle gives the drink a fresh look — perfect for raising a glass to two decades of fructose-conscious enjoyment.

Join the celebration and share a toast with us on Instagram.

Continued international growth into Poland with a local partner as well as continuing research into fructans, preparation methods and new solutions – with the goal of making food enjoyable and safe for everyone, everywhere.