The definition of hydrocolloids for this market study is as follows: Hydrocolloids are all the polysaccharides that are extracted from plants, seaweeds, and microbial sources; as well as gums derived from plant exudates and modified biopolymers made by the chemical treatment of cellulose. The term ‘hydrocolloid’ is derived from the Greek hydro ‘water’ and kolla ‘glue’. Hydrocolloids are colloidal substances with an affinity for water. From a chemical point of view, they are macromolecular hydrophilic substances. Some of them are water soluble and form colloidal solutions, while others are only able to swell in water and can be dispersed by means of shear forces.

Visionary leaders are the leading market players in terms of new developments such as product launches, innovative technologies, and the adoption of growth strategies. These players have a broad product offering that caters to most of the regions globally. Visionary leaders primarily focus on acquiring the leading market position through their strong financial capabilities and their well-established brand equity.

Dynamic Differentiators are established players with very strong business strategies. However, they have a weaker product portfolio compared to the visionary leaders. They generally focus only on a specific type of technology related to the product.

Innovators in the competitive leadership mapping are vendors that have demonstrated substantial product innovations as compared to their competitors. The companies have focused on product portfolios. However, they do not have very strong growth strategies for their overall business, when compared with the visionary leaders.

Emerging companies have niche product and service offerings. Their business strategies are not as strong as that of the established vendors. The emerging vendors include the new entrants in the market, emerging in terms of product portfolio and geographic reach, and require time to gain significant traction in the market.