Soaring protein demand powers FrieslandCampina’s strategic expansion

FrieslandCampina Ingredients, a division of Dutch dairy co-op FrieslandCampina, has acquired Wisconsin Whey Protein, expanding its presence in North American while strengthening its global position as a high-end protein supplier. Guus Aerts, global managing director of FrieslandCampina Ingredients, told us at Fi Europe 2025 that the investment was ‘unprecedented’ in the company’s modern history – and will unlock new growth opportunities for the business. “Ever since Friesland Foods and Campina merged 17 years ago, this is by far the biggest investment we have made in ingredients. And it’s unprecedented.” In the US, FrieslandCampina offers hydrolyzed proteins but acquiring Wisconsin Whey Protein adds capacity for another high-end protein type: whey protein isolates (WPI). Wisconsin Whey is also currently doubling its factory capacity, meaning that even more volume will come online in the near future. And there are greater strategic imperative behind the move, we learned. “We are aiming to become a top-three player in performance and active nutrition,” Aerts told us. “To achieve that, we’ve been expanding our capacity. This added capacity allows us to better serve our global customers. It also frees up more of our existing protein supply for other regions.” FrieslandCampina is adding WPI capacity in Europe, too. “We’re also investing in our network in the Netherlands to more than double WPI production,” Aerts said. “Expanding our supply chain beyond the Netherlands, our largest base, strengthens our ability to be a true global partner. “At the same time, we’ve been exploring options to strengthen our presence in the US, which is a key market for performance and active nutrition,” he explained. “This market shows strong growth and leads many of the major trends. “With the acquisition of Wisconsin Whey Protein, we’ve gained a technologically advanced company producing high-quality whey proteins. Partnering with the FrieslandCampina family brings additional R&D expertise, application knowledge, and market understanding – making this a very strong strategic move.” According to IFIC’s Food and health survey (2024), 71% of consumers actively prioritize protein intake, a notable increase from 59% in 2022 and 67% in 2023. This has been driven by protein’s health halo with consumers viewing high-protein diets as good for their health, and increasingly good for weight management: a growing trend globally, as the uptake of GLP-1 agonists take shape. Manufacturers are also looking for more protein to support their production strategies. According to Aerts, global demand for whey proteins is “tight” and many customers are looking for more supply. “With this added capacity and our ongoing investments worldwide, we believe we can elevate our position and become a top-three player in performance and active nutrition, alongside our strongholds in medical nutrition.” And when it comes to protein innovation, the possibilities are endless, with the ingredient added to anything from drinks to pasta. “We see the space blurring between high-protein yogurts, quality protein RTDs, and true performance and active nutrition – that’s a blurring space," Aerts said. “We believe this growth will continue. “Consumers are looking for high-protein options, and we hear the same from our customers and investors. There is still significant investment in capacity for protein bars and high-quality RTDs to meet consumer demand. “With this growth, we want to be part of it, and we truly believe these products deliver benefits for people in the US and globally.”

Soaring protein demand powers FrieslandCampina’s strategic expansion

The Dutch company has made its biggest ingredients investment yet as it bets on the protein boom to continue

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