Arla Foods’ protein juice drink solutions for South America

Arla Foods Ingredients at Softdrinks Tech, which took place between 31 August and 1 September at the Frei Caneca Convention Center in São Paulo, Brazil, demonstrated how South American brands can use its Lacprodan and Nutrilac ProteinBoost whey proteins to create protein-enriched, ready-to-drink juice-style beverages.

The South American functional beverages market is expected to achieve a CAGR of 8.75% between 2025 and 2030. Health trends are driving consumer demand for drinks with additional wellness benefits as well as great taste. This is reflected in the growing popularity of functional beverages with protein and energy claims.

A new Arla Foods Ingredients survey of 4,000 consumers in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia found that great taste, naturalness, and high protein content were their primary considerations when purchasing food. When asked which products they would like to contain more protein, 31% overall – and 40% in Brazil – cited juices.

At the Softdrinks Tech event, Arla Foods Ingredients highlighted how manufacturers can meet these needs using its Lacprodan and Nutrilac ProteinBoost solutions. These whey proteins enable the creation of refreshing, protein-enriched juice-style drinks with satiety benefits and great taste. Rich in all the essential amino acids, they deliver up to 6% (15g per 250 ml) protein, and allow on-pack protein health and nutrition claims.

Lacprodan clear whey protein isolates allow beverage, performance, and health brands to develop a clear, refreshing juice-style protein drink without the milky flavor of traditional ready-to-drink beverages. Fat-free and with only four ingredients, Lacprodan supports clean labels and zero-fat claims. It can be produced using UHT treatment, without homogenization.

Nutrilac ProteinBoost whey protein offers pleasant viscosity and creamy mouthfeel, enabling dairies to innovate with refreshing products such as protein smoothies. It also supports low or zero-fat claims, increasing its appeal to health-conscious consumers. Made with patented microparticulation technology, Nutrilac ProteinBoost enables smooth protein addition with no technical challenges, requiring only heat treatment, pasteurization, and homogenization.

Easy to integrate into existing production lines, Arla Foods Ingredients’ whey protein solutions are ideal for a variety of applications and markets, such as a nutritious, on-the-go boost for children; a refreshing post-workout recovery drink; a fortified breakfast juice for health-conscious consumers; and a nourishing drink for older consumers or patients with additional protein needs.

Facundo Martin Cozzi, application project manager, South America at Arla Foods Ingredients, said, “South American consumers are increasingly seeking juice-style drink alternatives that combine natural ingredients, excellent taste, and refreshment with protein benefits such as satiety. Lacprodan enables brands to combine the familiar taste of juice and the advantages of high-quality, clear whey protein isolates. For dairies, Nutrilac ProteinBoost allows for innovation with refreshing juice-style drinks boasting superb mouthfeel and creaminess. Our solutions are also easy to use, providing an accessible way for manufacturers to develop their product lines, increase sales, and capture market share in a fast-growing segment.”