FrieslandCampina Ingredients, a global supplier of functional ingredients and solutions, has entered the plant-based protein market with two powder solutions developed in collaboration with AGT Foods, a global supplier of pulses, staple foods, and other ingredients.
 
As a specialist in dairy ingredients, this represents FrieslandCampina’s first foray into plant-based foods, and contains AGT Foods’ pulse ingredients, which is a unique factor to bring to the plant protein market.
 
The new Plantaris range of light, cream-colored proteins will feature Plantaris Pea Isolate 85A and Plantaris Faba Isolate 90 A, both of which are designed to have appealing flavors which avoid the off-notes typically found in pea proteins which consumers find unappealing.
 
“Demand for plant-based products is a trend that is shaping the future of how we eat,” Herman Ermens, president of FrieslandCampina Ingredients, said. “As consumers become more health and planet-conscious than ever, demand for plant-based proteins is increasing. More people are identifying as flexitarian, and therefore want a wider range of protein options, from plant and dairy sources, to suit their changing needs […] by partnering with AGT, a leading innovator in plant-based ingredients, we want to help our customers seize the opportunities in this growing market by presenting high-quality dairy and plant-based proteins, side by side. Our partnership opens up huge scope for innovation and the creation of precisely-targeted end products for today’s consumers.
 
Citing market research conducted by FMCG Gurus, 47% of consumers find the taste of plant proteins less appealing than animal proteins, the companies reported. However, a sensory panel test that they conducted against competitor products found that people consider the taste of the Plantaris range to be cleaner overall compared to other products available on the market.
 
Both ingredients are extracted through a gentle, chemical-free manufacturing process, in a way to ensure dispersibility, solubility, stability, and low dusting. Well-suited for a wide variety of applications, they are also gluten-free and have high concentrations of amino acids, including branched chain amino acids, to optimally stimulate muscle protein synthesis.
 
“The world of food and nutrition reacts quickly to changing consumer demands,” Murad Al-Katib, president and CEO of AGT Foods, said. “This partnership was borne out of mutual desire to deliver an effective, sustainable solution for today’s health-conscious and environmentally-aware consumers. By combining our knowledge of pulses as a healthy and sustainable source of protein, with FrieslandCampina Ingredients’ market understanding and formulation expertise, Plantaris is the ideal solution for brands looking to develop protein products with staying power as the nutrition market continues to evolve. We’re looking forward to our continued partnership and seeing how, together, we can serve the market better to help brands realize the full potential of plant proteins.”