Arla Foods Ingredients highlights whey protein for recovery in sports nutrition innovations

In a diversifying sports nutrition market, there is a growing demand for solutions with additional benefits, such as recovery from exercise. In this space, Arla Foods Ingredients highlights the role of whey and dairy protein ingredients in muscle synthesis, which can be combined with other ingredients for holistic sports nutrition. 

Innova Market Insights data indicates that 36% of global consumers report using recovery products when going to the gym. Moreover, the data indicates that new sports nutrition launches with a recovery claim grew 22% annually from 2021 to 2025. 

To further explore trends and dairy proteins in sports nutrition, Nutrition Insight meets with Birgitte Kynde Ravn, industry marketing manager in Performance Nutrition, at Arla Foods Ingredients.

As a result of the growing diversity in sports nutrition, she tells us consumers are increasingly seeking products with multiple benefits. “Often these are in areas not traditionally associated with performance, such as cognitive well-being or immune health.”

“As a result, we’re going to see more personalized products and more holistic formulations,” Kynde Ravn predicts. “This makes whey protein, which can easily be combined with a range of other ingredients, a great choice.”

“For example, Lacprodan ISO.Water is our whey protein isolate product for flavored water alternatives. As well as being rich in essential amino acids and branched chain amino acids, it’s easy to blend with other functional ingredients, such as zinc, magnesium, and caffeine, creating opportunities for additional claims.”

Kynde Ravn says the company’s recent innovations focus on holistic hydration, combining protein and hydration (Image credit: Arla Foods Ingredients).Another trend Kynde Ravn observes is a blurring of the lines between sports nutrition and other categories, such as healthy snacking and weight management.

“We probably also need to broaden what we mean by ‘sports’ when we talk about sports nutrition,” she continues. “For example, e-gamers have many of the same needs as traditional gym-goers: they’re interested in hydration, endurance, and energy maintenance too.”

Dairy for sports recovery

Amid a growing demand for alternative protein solutions in the nutrition industry, Kynde Ravn notes animal-based proteins will play a key role in sports nutrition. “It’s pretty much impossible to imagine a future for the performance nutrition space where whey and dairy proteins aren’t central.”

“It’s not just the fact that the high-protein trend shows no signs of slowing, but also that consumers are paying more attention to the source and nutritional quality of protein,” she underscores.

“When the conversation is about quality, whey and dairy proteins are always going to be a top choice because of their complete essential amino acid profile; high digestibility; and ability to accelerate recovery.”

Kynde Ravn highlights that high-quality whey proteins are key ingredients for post-effort recovery and sports nutrition more broadly.

She highlights the Arla Foods Ingredients portfolio that includes a range of science-backed whey protein isolates, concentrates, and hydrolysates designed to meet the increasingly broad needs of active consumers, whether that’s endurance, muscle protein synthesis, or recovery.

Sports nutrition consumers are increasingly seeking products with multiple benefits, such as recovery, cognitive well-being, or immune health.“We’re also proud to be an innovator in the space — a few years ago, we became the first supplier with the capacity for commercial production of pure BLG (beta-lactoglobulin) — which was basically a whole new protein category.”

According to Kynde Ravn, the company’s Lacprodan BLG-100 delivers a stronger amino acid response than standard whey protein isolate, with higher peak leucine levels. “This creates optimal conditions to support muscle protein synthesis.”

Holistic hydration and protein bars

Arla Foods Ingredients has been focusing on holistic hydration in its recent innovations, aiming to meet a need for sports nutrition beverages that combine protein and hydration.

“For example, there’s high demand for products that pair protein with electrolytes,” says Kynde Ravn. “Our Lacprodan SP-9213 is a whey protein isolate that retains its functionality when combined with electrolytes. By offering both hydration and high protein, it demonstrates how products can meet two key sports nutrition needs at the same time.”

At last year’s Food ingredients Europe show, the company showcased a carbonated flavored “milk-like drink” made with pure whey protein as a high-protein beverage concept.

Meanwhile, Kynde Ravn notes that protein bars remain the iconic post-workout snack. However, improving the nutritional profile of these products without compromising on taste or texture has long been a challenge.

“We recently created our Easy Bite concept to demonstrate how the right whey protein ingredients can solve this problem,” she details.

This concept is created using Arla Foods Ingredients’ customized whey protein solution, Lacprodan EasyBar, and delivers up to 40% protein in an 18 g serving. Kynde Ravn notes that the concept contains eight ingredients and is high in fiber, with no added sugar or fat and no maltitol.

“The concept avoids the textural deterioration that can affect protein bars, maintaining stable softness over a two-year shelf life without the need for additional fat or water-binding ingredients like collagen.”