Gillco and Oterra began collaborating in 2025 to bring industry-leading natural color solutions to food and beverage manufacturers across North America and beyond. This partnership strengthens Gillco’s portfolio with Oterra’s unmatched expertise in plant-based, clean-label food colors — meeting rising consumer demand for natural alternatives to artificial dyes.
Who Is Oterra?
Oterra is the world’s largest provider of natural food colors, with a legacy that traces back to its first color launch in 1876. Trusted by manufacturers around the globe, Oterra delivers the broadest portfolio of natural coloring ingredients and application expertise for food, beverages, dietary supplements, and pet food.
Driven by the principle that “nature got it right the first time,” the company focuses on innovative, plant-based solutions that enable clean labeling, superior performance, and sustainable sourcing — helping brands transition away from artificial colorants.
What This Partnership Means for Gillco Customers
1. Access to Market-Leading Natural Colors
Through this partnership, Gillco offers Oterra’s full suite of natural food colors — ranging from vibrant blues and reds to subtle earth tones — all derived from fruit, vegetable, and plant concentrates. These ingredients are suitable for multiple applications, including beverages, confectionery, dairy, bakery, and prepared foods.
Customers benefit from:
High-performance natural color solutions
Support for clean label and natural product positioning
Versatile formats (liquids, powders, oil/water-soluble)
Compliance with evolving regulatory standards
2. Why Natural Colors Matter Now
Consumer preference and regulatory landscapes are rapidly shifting:
Clean-label demand: A growing percentage of consumers actively seek products free from artificial ingredients.
Regulatory movement: Changes (e.g., phase-outs of certain synthetic colors) are accelerating reformulation needs.
Oterra’s decades of experience and innovation give brands a competitive edge to reformulate and launch natural color products that resonate with modern consumers.
Applications for Oterra Natural Food Colors
Oterra’s natural food color solutions are designed to perform across a wide range of food and beverage applications. Through Gillco, manufacturers gain access to colors tailored for both visual impact and formulation stability.
Key application areas include:
- Beverages (still, carbonated, functional, and alcoholic)
- Confectionery & gummies
- Dairy & dairy alternatives
- Bakery & cereal
- Prepared foods & sauces
- Dietary supplements
- Pet food
Each application benefits from Oterra’s deep understanding of pH, heat, light exposure, and processing conditions, ensuring consistent color performance throughout the shelf life.
Gillco Resources: Natural Color Conversion
To support your transition from artificial to natural colors, we’ve compiled key insights, best practices, and strategic considerations:
Download — Guide for Converting Artificial to Natural Food Colors
These materials help you plan efficient reformulation, evaluate color performance impacts, and align with consumer expectations for clean label products.
Partner with Gillco for Oterra Natural Color Ingredients
Gillco is more than a distributor — we act as a strategic partner throughout your product lifecycle.
Customers benefit from:
- Direct access to Oterra’s technical and R&D expertise
- Reliable supply chain and logistics support
- Application-specific guidance during reformulation
- Collaborative problem-solving from concept to commercialization
Our partnership with Oterra allows us to support innovation while maintaining the consistency and scalability manufacturers need.
Gillco and Oterra Natural Colors FAQs
When did Gillco partner with Oterra?
Gillco and Oterra began working together in 2025 to expand access to high-performance natural food color solutions.
Can natural food colors replace artificial dyes completely?
In most applications, yes. While natural colors may behave differently from synthetic dyes, Oterra’s portfolio offers solutions designed to closely match shade, vibrancy, and performance when reformulating.
Are Oterra food colors considered clean label?
Many Oterra solutions can be labeled as fruit or vegetable concentrates, supporting clean-label positioning and simplified ingredient statements.
Do natural food colors perform well in beverages?
Yes. Oterra is a global leader in beverage coloring solutions, offering options that are stable across a range of pH levels, processing methods, and shelf-life conditions.
Does Gillco provide technical support during reformulation?
Yes. Gillco works closely with Oterra’s technical teams to assist with application testing, color matching, and reformulation strategy.