Tap into a growing 2.9 billion-litre market1
Most sports nutrition consumers already understand the benefits of protein. The question is no longer how much – it’s what kind, with what benefits and in what format. This shift from quantity to differentiation is a clear opportunity. Functional ingredients beyond protein are gaining traction, and ready-to-drink formats are accelerating demand for products that deliver targeted benefits, from muscle gain to enhanced endurance. We help you develop, process and package sports nutrition beverages that respond to what consumers want now, and position your portfolio for where the market is heading.
Protein opportunities for all stages of life
Protein is essential to everyday health supporting tissue repair, immunity, and vital bodily functions. This universal, lifelong demand drives an enormous consumer market.
What makes a great package design?
The optimal packaging will protect your food supplement and nutrition product, but it can do so much more. Choose a package that helps you present your brand in the most positive light, matching form to function.
Fine-tune your formulation for taste and performance
From identifying the right market space to selecting the right package and formulation, the path from idea to shelf is complex. Many popular functional ingredients face challenges with solubility, stability and taste in RTD formats. We help you work through these formulation hurdles — fine-tuning your recipe to appeal to your target audience with the properties, taste and mouthfeel that set your product apart.
The science of mouthfeel
Mouthfeel is one of the first things consumers notice, consciously or not. In protein-rich RTD beverages, getting texture and viscosity right is as important as the functional benefits. As food supplement and nutrition products go mainstream, the consumption experience becomes a competitive differentiator.
CUSTOMER CASE
The future of protein: shakes based on A2 dairy
With Tetra Pak’s support, the US start-up Pioneer Pastures recently launched a range of high protein, low-sugar chocolate and vanilla protein shakes in Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 330ml packages. Discover how, together with Tetra Pak, they overcame the challenges of producing and launching a new brand of lifestyle nutrition products.
1. Global Data 2023 Ad Hoc research.
2. Global data 2024 Ad hoc research. 17 researched markets. Formats: RTD, powder, gel, soup, liquid-enteral
3. Ipsos FSN U&A for Tetra Pak, Trendipedia 2025
4. Industry of Usx, Tetra Pak
5. Source: Kline+Company
6. Typical production scenario based on on-site experience of customers’ protein powder processing. Assumes 300 working days per year, a 35,000kg batch size, 4 batches per day and a 6 EUR/kg DM product cost. Savings are made up of a) foam overflow in mixing phase typically costs €100,000+ per year in product losses, b) product also lost to increased burn-on during heat treatment, c) higher CIP and cleaning downtime costs and d) increased spare part and maintenance costs.