Arla Foods Ingredients and Zhongbai Xingye join forces to bolster nutrition in China

21 Aug 2023 --- Arla Foods Ingredients (AFI) and Zhongbai Xingye Food Technology, a subsidiary of the Brenntag Group, have signed a distribution agreement that will prioritize infant nutrition, performance nutrition and Chinese food and beverage formulations.

The collaboration includes a jointly-funded innovation and application center in Zhongbai’s Beijing facility, where China-specific formulations are developed. Under the agreement, the center will be expanded with additional application-specific capabilities.

Key areas of innovation
The agreement will cover the full range of AFI’s business units. For example, Chinese parents increasingly demand premium infant nutrition products, therefore, the partnership will work with manufacturers to improve the nutritional profile of formula and other products for infants and toddlers.

There is also substantial growth potential in the local performance nutrition market, including sports nutrition, nutrition for seniors and dietary supplements. 

AFI and Zhongbai Xingye are also looking to strengthen bakery and beverage capabilities where strong potential has been observed.

“There’s still potential for major expansion, particularly in key segments like performance nutrition. We’re looking forward to working together to take the opportunities ahead,” says Michael Friede, CEO at Brenntag Specialties.

Knowledge of local business landscapeInnovation will focus on application formulations specific to the Chinese nutrition market.
Zhongbai Xingye has a “wealth of expertise and local knowledge” about the local nutrition market in China, which Arla Foods Ingredients will continue to harness, specifically through the new agreement.

“Demographic changes in China have increased the demand for high-quality products, particularly in the infant nutrition and performance nutrition spaces. This agreement will help us adapt and make our offering to Chinese markets even stronger,” says Luis Cubel, commercial director of Arla Foods Ingredients.

“We’re excited about this new opportunity to co-operate even further and continue investing in one of the world’s most important nutrition markets.”

In May, AFI unveiled a solution that increases the protein content of juice-style oral nutrition supplements for medical nutrition to 7% without compromising taste or mouthfeel, which it showcased at Vitafoods Europe in May.

It also has a line of whey proteins based on a patented microparticulation technology to meet the growing consumer demand for protein quality. Branded as Nutrilac ProteinBoost, the product was created to meet the needs of health-conscious consumers and manufacturers. 

Earlier this month, Novozymes and AFI signed a deal to develop advanced protein ingredients using precision fermentation.

Edited by Inga de Jong