FrieslandCampina’s €90M investment to accelerate high-value whey protein growth
Key takeaways
- FrieslandCampina is investing over €90 million to expand its Dutch production network and meet rising global demand for high-value whey proteins.
- The initiative upgrades technology across multiple facilities to produce specialized ingredients for sports, medical, and early-life nutrition by 2028.
- These upgrades will reduce annual GHG emissions by 16 kt through the implementation of water-efficient and energy-saving technologies.
FrieslandCampina has launched an investment program of more than €90 million (~US$105.3 million), aiming to strengthen its global supply of whey proteins through its optimized ingredients production network in the Netherlands.
The program will expand the supplier’s capacity to convert whey sourced from internal side streams of cheese production into protein ingredients for performance, active, early life, and medical nutrition.
These investments include upgrades at the production sites in Bedum, Veghel, and Workum.
“Global demand for advanced protein solutions continues to accelerate,” says Anne Peter Lindeboom, president of FrieslandCampina Ingredients.
“This program is the next step in our broader investment strategy to lead in high-value proteins, building on recent investments to strengthen whey capacity and valorization in the Netherlands, such as in Borculo, and in the US through the acquisition of Wisconsin Whey Protein,” she highlights.
“By investing across our ingredients network, we are strengthening our ability to serve customers worldwide and to create more value from our whey streams in a sustainable and future-oriented way.”
Upgrades across production
The program advances technological upgrades across multiple production sites for advanced protein products such as WPC80, instantized whey proteins, and FrieslandCampina’s specialty Nutri Whey ProHeat microparticulated whey.
These ingredients are used by food manufacturers in various applications, including high-protein drinks, bars, and yogurts.
FrieslandCampina underscores that global demand for high-value whey proteins continues to grow, particularly in sports and lifestyle nutrition and specialized medical applications.
The investments also contribute to FrieslandCampina’s broader environmental ambitions. The program includes state-of-the-art energy- and water-efficient technologies and the phase-out of older production lines.
As a result, the company expects its Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to be reduced by approximately 16 KT CO2e, while ensuring continued compliance with Dutch and EU environmental standards.
Investment timeline
FrieslandCampina will phase the investments over the coming years and expects to reach full operational capacity in 2028.
In other capacity upgrades, the company recently completed a strategic investment in its Netherlands-based Borculo facility, doubling the production of its whey protein isolate and milk fat globule membrane ingredients. The upgrade supports a diverse range of global applications across the early life, performance, active, and medical nutrition markets.
Earlier this year, Nutrition Insight met with the company at Expo West 2026, where it discussed Biotis Fermentis, a gut-muscle health ingredient with whey protein, prebiotics, and probiotics.
