Whey-based toddler foods an untapped market

Dairy ingredients such as whey represent a major untapped opportunity for food and beverage brands in the booming toddler food and beverage market, according to supplier Arla Foods Ingredients.

Euromonitor valued the global toddler food and beverage market at US$34 billion in 2015 and forecasts it will grow at a rate of 11.4% between now and 2018.

Anne Staudt Kvistgaard, senior manager for pediatric at Arla Foods Ingredients, says the toddler years are a crucial period for ensuring children receive the right nutrients and develop healthy eating habits.

Dairy ingredients such as whey can be utilised for toddler-specific products such as snack bars, squeezable pouches, yoghurts, fruit drinks, milky drinks and toddler formulas.

Arla Foods Ingredients has developed a range of dairy ingredients suitable for the toddler food market, including Lacprodan whey proteins, Lacprodan ALPHA-10 proteins for gut health, Capolac with >24% milk calcium and Lacprodan PL-20 milk protein concentrate.