The Hartford Mutual Funds has introduced three new funds to its lineup in a bid to keep up with the growing global demand for alternative asset classes.

"We expect these funds to be embraced by advisors whose clients seek active asset allocation, more sophisticated global diversification and long-term growth," Keith Sloane, the senior vice president of the firm, said in a statement.

The funds are sub-advised by Wellington Management Company, an independent and unaffiliated sub-advisor to The Hartford.

The Hartford Global Real Asset Fund is led by Scott Elliott, the senior vice president at Wellington Management. The fund is designed to provide long-term total return through the likes of equity investments, inflation-linked bonds, and commodities.

The Hartford Global All-Asset Fund offers a flexible and adaptive investment approach that allows portfolio managers to diversify into various asset classes, the firm said. It will also be led by Elliott.

The Hartford International Value Fund offers investors the benefits of international exposure with a style-focused, large-cap value approach. It will be led by Toby Jayne, vice president at Wellington.

"Advisors are eager for exposure to non-traditional asset classes as well as a flexible mandate, and mutual funds with tactical exposure to the alternative space," said Sloane.

Alternative assets have been gaining a lot of clout among investors following the global financial crisis - ETFs, hedge funds, and mutual funds, in particular.