Arla Foods Ingredients says it is offering an easy way to give protein bars premium positioning.

The protein bar category is growing, the company believes, thanks to demand for functional foods, meal replacements and on-the-go snacks. In an increasingly crowded market, manufacturers are seeking new ways to differentiate their products and maximize consumer appeal.

Arla introduces Lacprodan ISO.WheyBar

Achieving premium positioning can be technically challenging and time-consuming, Arla says. However, a new solution from Arla Foods Ingredients is designed to allow manufacturers to give their protein bars an upgrade without wasting time on sourcing, balancing and blending numerous ingredients.

Lacprodan ISO.WheyBar is a blend of whey protein isolate and casein specially designed as a premium protein source in bars. According to Arla, whey protein isolate is recognized by consumers as one of the most pure and complete protein sources available, allowing bars to be positioned at the premium end of the market.

The solution is said to have been optimized to deliver a bar with a great texture over its entire shelf life – a common challenge when incorporating whey protein isolate into bars. Because it comes ready-to-mix, it can reduce production time. It is also quality-assured, so that manufacturers can depend on high performance during production, as well as high-quality nutritional content in the final product every time, Arla claims.

Joe Katterfield, Health & Performance Nutrition Development Manager at Arla Foods Ingredients, said: “Bars are a hugely popular way for mindful consumers to increase their protein intake on-the-go. Premium positioning can be achieved by incorporating whey protein isolate but this is often difficult. Lacprodan ISO.WheyBar allows manufacturers to take protein bars to the next level without the headache of handling numerous protein ingredients.”