A Deep Dive in Dairy Products
People have become far more conscious about health-related subjects in recent years. According to Maurice, Nutritional Manager at Alpha Group, dairy continues to play an important role in that conversation since it combines nutrition, affordability and accessibility.
Dairy protein as a building block for the body
Maurice explains that proteins are one of the main reasons dairy remains relevant. “The best protein source for the body is meat,” he says. “But meat has become unaffordable for more and more people worldwide. The second-best building block for the body is dairy protein. We call that whey protein.”
According to Maurice, there is a clear hierarchy in protein quality. “You can compare it to a ladder,” he explains. “First comes meat protein, then dairy protein, then fish, and after that come plant proteins from soya, pea, lentils and other plant-based sources.”
“Nowadays almost every product has a protein claim. For instance, you can now buy protein drinks at supermarkets and even at petrol stations. In the supermarket you’ll also find a wide product range such as protein pancakes, protein yoghurt, protein chips and much more. Even sports nutrition is no longer limited to specialist stores.”
”“You can now buy protein drinks at supermarkets and even at petrol stations.”
Changing views on traditional dairy products
Maurice also points to changing perceptions around dairy fats: “Butter used to have a bad image. People thought it would clog your arteries. Now you see through cooking programmes and baking shows that butter is accepted again and seen as a rather pure product.”
“I also believe that sustainability and local sourcing play a big role. People increasingly want products that are made closer to home. Since many plant oils and ingredients come from far away and dairy can come from nearby, traditional dairy products are becoming more popular again.”
The rise of whey proteins
One of the biggest developments in dairy is the growing demand for whey proteins. Maurice links this directly to modern health trends and weight-loss products. “You can lose weight quickly with all kinds of medicines,” he says, referring to obesity treatments that have become widely discussed in recent years. “But that always comes at the expense of muscle mass.”
“To compensate for that, consumers increasingly turn to protein-rich nutrition. You see enormous demand for proteins and dairy proteins. Those whey proteins are the building blocks that are important for building muscles. It touches upon all walks of life: athletes, children and even older people that struggle with muscle loss.”
Alpha Group’s role in dairy ingredients
“Fifty years ago, we were still a traditional trading house moving dairy products from A to B,” Maurice says. “Today we still trade and export the standard dairy commodities such as milk powders, but we also heavily invested in whey derivatives many years ago, even before it became a trend. Those ingredients are now widely used in the nutritional, food and beverage industry.”
Contact us
Alpha Group supplies dairy ingredients and whey proteins to customers worldwide. Interested in learning more about dairy proteins or nutritional dairy ingredients? Please do not hesitate to contact one of our specialists.