Arla Foods Ingredients has formed a partnership with British dairy cooperative First Milk to produce a specialist whey protein powder – Nutrilac FO-7875 – at First Milk’s Lake District Creamery.

Arla’s patented microparticulate whey protein concentrate product is used as an ingredient to enhance the level of protein in food and drink products.

“Nutrilac FO-7875 can be used in a range of applications, in particular protein-enriched dairy drinks. It is available globally,” Anne Hoest Stenbaek, head of marketing at Arla Foods Ingredients, tells FoodIngredientsFirst.

“The ingredient has a unique ability to increase the protein content of food and drink products to very high levels without sacrificing texture or stability.”

Expanding formulation abilities
Nutrilac FO-7875 allows manufacturers to develop both spoonable and drinkable yogurts with significantly higher protein content than typical products, which generally range from 5% to 9%. For example, it can be used to create a drinking yogurt with 11% protein and only 0.8% fat.

Nutrilac FO-7875 allows manufacturers to develop both spoonable and drinkable yogurts with significantly higher protein content than typical products.First Milk will manufacture Nutrilac FO-7875 on behalf of Arla Foods Ingredients using the company’s proprietary process, with Arla Foods Ingredients marketing and selling the product internationally.

In addition, First Milk will continue to manufacture whey protein concentrate powder – WPC80 – and market it through its existing partnership.

“Over the last few years, we have completed a significant investment program across our operations, which means that we are well-placed to expand the range of high-quality, specialist products we can efficiently manufacture,” comments Shelagh Hancock, chief executive of First Milk.

Protein-powered activities
The protein enrichment of food remains a growing consumer trend. Nutrilac FO-7875 was developed in response to the growing demand for high-protein yogurt products – a global market which Arla expects to grow at a CAGR of over 8% to 2030. 

“This is a new kind of partnership for us and a very exciting one, especially at a time when demand for high-quality protein solutions has never been greater,” says Henrik Andersen, chief executive of Arla Foods Ingredients.

In recent research-led protein developments at Arla, the company unveiled the Refreshing Fermented Protein drink within the healthy beverage space. The new solution, based on 100% whey-based hydrolysates Lacprodan HYDRO.365 and Nutrilac FO-8571, enhances fermented protein beverages.

Last month, the Denmark-based supplier released a concept functional drink to aid in rehydration and recovery. The ready-to-drink (RTD) sports nutrition solution features Lacprodan SP-9213, a whey protein isolate that the company states is able to retain its functionality when paired with electrolytes. 

The company also launched two high-protein products for people suffering from chronic kidney disease. Both products use the new protein ingredient Lacprodan BLG-100, consisting of a RTD beverage with 7% protein and a shot format with 21% protein.