The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry

Arla Foods Ingredients has entered into a contract manufacturing agreement with Valley Queen to strengthen its production capabilities to meet the growing demand for protein-enriched dairy in the US.

Located in South Dakota, Valley Queen will produce ingredients from the Nutrilac ProteinBoost range. The patented microparticulate whey protein concentrate is used to increase protein levels in food and drinks while still retaining texture and taste.

Luis Cubel, group vice president and MD of Arla Food Ingredients, said: “Demand for protein-enriched dairy products continues to grow in the US. In order to meet it and to fulfil our ambitious plans for growth in North America, it was essential for us to significantly increase our capacity for the production of Nutrilac ProteinBoost."

"At the same time, it was important to choose a partner with the right values, history and expertise. We’re delighted to work with Valley Queen, a company with a long heritage that shares our commitment to producing dairy and why products of the highest quality.”

Valley Queen employs approximately 440 people and specialises in dairy production, manufacturing over 330 million pounds of cheese annually and processing around 1.36 billion kilograms of milk

Doug Wilke, CEO of Valley Queen, added: “Like us, Arla Foods Ingredients is dedicated to meeting the needs of American manufacturers and consumers. Nutrilac ProteinBoost is a highly innovative ingredient that offers the perfect way to create appealing dairy products enriched with high-quality protein. We’re excited to move ahead with its production and we’re looking forward to a long and productive partnership with a global leader in the whey nutrition space.”

Following the installation of new equipment, production of Nutrilac ProteinBoost is set to commence at the company’s Milbank, SD plant in winter 2025.