Valio launches a new product segment to enable better-tasting protein products

Leading Finnish dairy company Valio has launched a new milk protein concentrate (MPC), Valio Eila MPC 65. Valio’s expertise in developing lactose-free milk protein helps manufacturers create better-tasting and healthier high-protein products to meet the growing global market needs.

Valio has reimagined the future of protein with the launch of Valio Eila MPC 65. The new concentrate continues in the footsteps of Valio’s other protein-enriching products, bringing the taste and texture of the end product to the forefront. Lactose-free for better digestive comfort, this new product can elevate protein puddings, shakes, ice creams, and drinks to the next level.

Tasty and healthy without compromise – no sandy texture or undesirable flavor

In the highly competitive field of protein-enriched foods, a common issue is that the end products' flavor and texture can be slightly off. This was the issue Valio sought to fix with the development of Valio Eila MPC 65.

“Consumers leading an active lifestyle want excellent nutritional value without compromising on the taste. We needed a product that has all the benefits of milk’s natural whey and casein proteins and amino acids, and none of the taste and texture problems usually associated with high-protein powders”, says Sinikka Saikkonen, business development manager at Valio.

The result is a new product that the manufacturers will love – Valio Eila MPC 65. It combines Valio’s expertise in lactose-free with the nutritional values of excellent dairy milk protein.

“Valio Eila MPC 65 can be used to create a versatile selection of lactose-free, high-protein products that will taste like they were made from fresh milk and have the texture of traditional snacks and treats. It truly is a game changer in protein-enriched products”, adds Jarna Tanskanen, Business Manager at Valio.

Consumers loved new, tasty, high-protein products.

As always, to ensure that the flavor and texture of the end product are what the consumers want, Valio conducted a consumer test in Germany. A group of 110 people participated in the test.

When tested against four leading competitors, Valio’s high protein UHT ready-to-drink (RTD) prototype was best liked overall. Consumers who liked the thicker texture of the drink gave its appearance, flavor (taste), and texture/mouthfeel a high score. Nearly 70% of consumers agreed that Valio's RTD prototype had ideal flavor and sweetness, with the highest score in the test.

“We offered samples of the RTD prototype at the Growth Asia Summit and Vitafoods Asia in September, and people were visibly amazed by the flavor and texture. They couldn’t believe it’s a protein-enriched drink and not a regular chocolate shake”, says Meri Härmälä, International B2B marketing manager at Valio.

The consumer test showed that flavor is the most important purchase criterion. Other important factors were a short ingredient list, a high level of protein, and the fact that there is no added sugar. Consumers are also looking for good value for money, a good source of protein and natural ingredients. Valio Eila MPC 65 creates a protein-enriched product that matches those demands easily.

Milk protein concentrate helps manufacturers streamline their production

Valio’s new protein product portfolio is designed for manufacturers looking to meet the growing consumer demand for high-protein, lactose-free, and great-tasting snacking products.

“When you use Valio Eila MPC 65 to create a new product, you don’t need to add anything extra to hide its flavor. This also helps keep the ingredient list short, which is exactly what consumers are looking for”, Tanskanen explains.

With the addition of Valio Eila MPC 65 to the product portfolio, Valio can serve its customers even better than before, with a steady supply of high-quality powdered milk ingredients. By replacing liquid milk with powdered milk products, a manufacturer can easily streamline their production process without additional steps, such as filtration, concentration, or hydrolysation, that are usually related to higher protein and lower lactose contents.

“Valio’s powdered ingredients are suitable for versatile processes. You can make UHT products such as RTD beverages and shakes, fermented products such as spoonable and drinkable yogurts, neutral products like puddings and desserts, or even ice cream. And they will all taste great and have a pleasant texture”, Saikkonen adds.