Not long ago, protein-enriched products were largely confined to the sports nutrition aisle. Today, they have become part of everyday eating habits, as consumers increasingly seek foods and beverages that support a balanced lifestyle without compromising on taste or convenience. This shift is creating new opportunities for manufacturers to rethink formulations and develop solutions across a wide range of categories.
These evolving market dynamics are explored in a recent feature published by Ingredienti Alimentari, where Massimiliano Landini, Business Unit Manager Food & Nutrition at IMCD Italy, and Simone Abbatangelo, Technical Manager, share complementary perspectives on the future of protein innovation. Together, they explain how market trends, formulation expertise and technical collaboration are enabling manufacturers to develop products that meet increasingly sophisticated consumer expectations.
As Massimiliano highlights, consumers are no longer looking solely for nutritional value. They expect products that deliver health benefits alongside great taste, texture and convenience. As a result, innovation is accelerating across categories such as dairy, beverages, bakery and specialised nutrition. While dairy proteins continue to play a leading role thanks to their nutritional profile and functional performance, plant-based alternatives are steadily gaining ground. Rather than replacing one another, these protein sources are increasingly being combined, giving manufacturers greater flexibility to develop products that meet diverse consumer needs and formulation requirements.
From a technical perspective, Simone explains that successful protein innovation depends on understanding how ingredients behave within each specific application. Selecting the right protein is only part of the challenge: formulation, processing conditions and ingredient interactions all influence the final product's texture, stability, flavour and nutritional profile. This is where application expertise becomes essential, helping manufacturers translate innovative concepts into products that are both technically robust and commercially successful.
Supporting this approach are IMCD Italy's dedicated application laboratories for dairy, bakery and beverages. In particular, the Dairy Laboratory has become a centre of excellence within the wider IMCD organisation, providing formulation support and technical expertise to customers across Europe. By combining speciality ingredients with application know-how, regulatory expertise and close collaboration, IMCD helps customers accelerate product development and confidently bring new protein concepts to market.