Arla Foods Ingredients has developed a whey protein solution to address the problem of textural deterioration in protein bars.
The company will debut the Lacprodan TexturePro, which it said delivers “superior texture and softer bite for longer”, at IFT in Chicago later this month. Arla Foods Ingredients said this would ensure that bars remain soft right up until the end of their shelf-life.
The sports bars category, which includes protein bars, has enjoyed a period of strong growth in recent years. According to Euromonitor International, value sales rose by an average of 7.8% a year between 2012 and 2017. The category has also become highly competitive, with the number of global product launches rising by an average of 18% a year over the same period, according to the Innova Database.
However, with many protein bars, Arla explained, there is a high risk that they will develop an unpleasantly hard texture towards the end of their shelf-life. This can result in consumer complaints to retailers and shoppers switching to other brands.
But TexturePro aims to offer a solution to this problem, delivering 45% improved texture and 60% reduced hardness after 15-18 months when just 5% of the ingredient is incorporated into the product.
Inge Lise Povlsen, senior category manager for Arla Foods Ingredients, said: “With the number of protein bars on the market proliferating, it’s important to ensure your product stays in the best possible condition throughout its shelf-life. Consumers who have a negative experience with a product are less likely to buy it again. TexturePro makes it possible to maintain a nice soft texture in a protein bar with dramatically reduced hardness, avoiding the risk of disappointing your customers.”
Lacprodan TexturePro is made in the European Union (EU) from milk sourced from grass-fed cows. It is non-GMO, free from emulsifiers and additives, and high in amino acid content.
As well as high-protein bars, it is suitable for other products including low-carb bars, high-fibre bars and protein balls, Arla said.
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024