Glanbia has announced a major new development in the area of food nutrition technology that is expected to help the company double its market share in the functional foods category of the fresh dairy product market.
This product innovation is the first significant initiative for the Consumer Foods Division and results from a €15 million investment by Glanbia and Enterprise Ireland in the Glanbia Group Innovation Centre in Kilkenny.
The innovation means that Glanbia products using the technology can attract consumers from the healthy fresh dairy product market, which is valued at €230 million and the vitamins and supplements market.
The breakthrough from the Glanbia innovation centre enables Glanbia to condense naturally occurring nutrients into shot sized yogurt based drinks that will deliver specific health and lifestyle/nutritional benefits.
The breakthrough is particularly important in the Irish market which has a rapidly ageing population.
In addition, with the huge growth in consumer interest around the role of diet and health, market research shows that consumers do not feel that they are doing enough to meet their nutritional and health needs.
Glanbia's new technology will enable dairy shot products to deliver a boost to the system by combining scientifically proven ingredients with a live yogurt base into a 60g shot aimed at a specific health goal, such as increasing vitamin D or potassium in the Yoplait Essence range.
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