By Vince Cavallini and Mark Fahlin, Cargill 03.02.22
The protein-fortified beverage space has undergone tremendous shifts in the last decade, as consumer tastes and formulation possibilities have evolved. The big mover in the marketplace has been the rise of plant-based products.
A decade ago, brands were still experimenting with first generation plant-based milk alternatives. Built around soy protein, these category pioneers were plagued with significant flavor challenges. Subsequent product development efforts ushered in a second and third generation of products that delivered much improved taste profiles and an expanding array of botanical sources. Almond milk muscled its way to the top of the heap, usurping soy to attain category dominance.
Fast-forward to today, and we’re in the midst of a fourth wave of product development. This time, protein fortification is the watchword, as brands race to close the protein gap between plant-based options and conventional milks. Many of the current offerings have just 1 gram of protein. That low level was fine for earlier product iterations when the struggle was singularly focused on creating a beverage with a palatable taste profile. Today, however, brands
A decade ago, brands were still experimenting with first generation plant-based milk alternatives. Built around soy protein, these category pioneers were plagued with significant flavor challenges. Subsequent product development efforts ushered in a second and third generation of products that delivered much improved taste profiles and an expanding array of botanical sources. Almond milk muscled its way to the top of the heap, usurping soy to attain category dominance.
Fast-forward to today, and we’re in the midst of a fourth wave of product development. This time, protein fortification is the watchword, as brands race to close the protein gap between plant-based options and conventional milks. Many of the current offerings have just 1 gram of protein. That low level was fine for earlier product iterations when the struggle was singularly focused on creating a beverage with a palatable taste profile. Today, however, brands
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