FrieslandCampina Ingredients showcases protein-forward concepts at Natural Products Expo West 2026
FrieslandCampina Ingredients presented a range of high-protein food and beverage application concepts at Natural Products Expo West (4–6 March 2026), held in Anaheim, California. The Dutch ingredients company demonstrated how whey proteins and caseinates can be formulated to deliver both functional performance and consumer-preferred sensory attributes.
Taste as a primary formulation driver
The company’s exhibit was anchored by consumer data showing that 85% of U.S. consumers rank taste as the primary factor in food purchasing decisions – ahead of price (76%) and health considerations (65%), according to the International Food Information Council’s Food & Health Survey 2024. Against this back-drop, FrieslandCampina Ingredients positioned taste not as a compromise but as a core formulation target alongside protein efficacy.
Featured concepts included a Dubai chocolate-inspired crispy protein bar, a key lime pie protein bar, chocolate chip cookie dough protein bites, and a high-protein vanilla café latte. These applications combined Nutri Whey™ whey proteins – which support rapid muscle protein synthesis – with Excellion® caseinates, which provide a slower, sustained release of amino acids. Excellion Textpro, a caseinate ingredient, was highlighted for its role in delivering textural performance in bar and snack formats. “Healthier snacks can be irresistible,” said Auke Zeilstra, Managing Director, North America at FrieslandCampina Ingredients. “Our applications demonstrate how high-quality proteins can be combined with consumer-preferred flavours and satisfying textures, enabling brands to create products that not only meet health needs like muscle support, but also excite and satisfy.”
GLP-1 alignment and gut-muscle axis targeting
A second strand of the company’s exhibit addressed the nutritional needs of consumers using GLP-1 receptor agonist medications, which are associated with reduced appetite, potential loss of lean muscle mass, and gastrointestinal side effects. FrieslandCampina Ingredients presented companion product concepts formulated with its Biotis® Fermentis ingredient – a co-fermented combination of whey protein, prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and probiotic cultures designed to target the gut-muscle axis.
Application concepts in this category included blueberry-lemon fermented whey protein bites and ‘FermentiPop’ functional sodas in citrus punch and peaches-and-cream variants. These formats were designed to simultaneously support muscle mass maintenance and gut microbiome health – a benefit combination increasingly sought by younger consumers.
Spins Data (2025) indicates that half of Gen Z and Millennial consumers following high-protein diets actively seek products containing added functional ingredients such as fibres and prebiotics.
Formulation complexity and ingredient portfolio
Floor van der Horst, Global Marketing Director, Performance and Active Nutrition at Friesland-Campina Ingredients, acknowledged the technical challenges involved. “Creating foods and beverages that support an active lifestyle and combine multiple benefits like muscle support with gut health is no small feat – especially when taste and texture are critical factors. It takes careful formulation to balance ingredients to create tasty snacks and drinks that also deliver high protein content and digestive support.”
The Excellion Caseinates portfolio was cited for its capacity to deliver sustained amino acid release for muscle preservation and satiety support, while the Biotis GOS prebiotic was presented as a complementary ingredient for gut microbiome maintenance.
For more information, visit: www.frieslandcampinaingredients.com
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