The firm said yesterday it will work with vending machine ingredient manufacturer Eurogran to use its NutriPhy range of phytonutrients, launched at Vitafoods, in the drink which could be available in gyms and fitness centres.
The companies are aiming the hot chocolate drink at consumers interested in beauty because it will be high in antioxidants, which have been used in the cosmeceutical industry because of their relationship to skin aging.
This novel move backs up an industry-wide trend to turn the tables on foods and snacks sold from vending machines as well as taking advantage of a growing trend to use food ingredients aimed at the beauty market.
Vending machines have come under severe scrutiny before and have been linked with the ever growing problem of obesity for selling products high in fat.
Indeed France passed controversial rules to ban the machines in schools across the country, in an attempt to reduce kids' access to junk food.
Around 16 per cent of French children are now believed to be overweight or obese and figures have doubled in the last 15 years.
The move also highlights how shows that the industry is finding new ways of using the nutraceutical properties of carotenoids, which in a 2003 Frost & Sullivan report were labelled as being under utilized.
The market research firm said then that carotenoids were used primarily as a colouring agent for the food and feed industries, with wide spread use seen only in Germany.
It added that consumers in other European regions are unaware of their use as a food fortifier or as a new ingredient in a supplement, shows the new report, and this low level of public awareness about the health benefits of carotenoids is expected to stifle market growth in the short term.
The hot chocolate, named Le Royal ChocoDark will be launched at Eu'Vend 2007, which is on in September in Cologne, Germany.
The drink will contain a mix of natural carotenoids from Chr Hansen together with cocoa polyphenols.
Carotenoids have been shown in some studies to reduce the risk of degenerative diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration.
They are also linked to a preventative effect on heart disease and certain cancers, although continuing research is aiming to confirm these theories.
The NutriPhy product is available as liquid, powder and beadlets for use in a wide-range of formulations and applications, is split into two categories: carotenoids and polyphenols.
The carotenoids originate from palm oil.
The polyphenols range is reported to include white and red grape polyphenols in varying concentrations, red cabbage polyphenols containing at least 20 per cent total polyphenols, and blackcurrant polyphenols containing at least 30 per cent total polyphenols.
Chr Hansen business development manager Sami Sassi said: "
We are sure that this chocolate drink will appeal to a wide range of consumers all over, and especially for those interested in beauty.
Worldwide, female consumers are the main consumers of cocoa products, and combining cocoa with natural carotene creates a good synergy effect. "
NutriPhy contains carotenoids extracted from palm fruits, with a natural and beneficial alpha and beta carotene profile, the company said.
Thomas Stilling, sales and marketing director at Eurogran, added: " We see great possibilities for the Le Royal ChocoDark to be included in vending machines not only in offices, but also at places like fitness centres and life-style-stores."
In a report issued just last month the world carotenoid market was set to reach $1.06bn (€0.78bn) by 2010, according to Global Industry Analysts.
The market researchers said this drive would be powered by rising health concerns and rapidly aging population, with the beta-carotene market dominated by Europe.