Arla Foods, Zhongbai Xingye sign new agreement to bring Arla’s whey and milk ingredients to China’s food, infant nutrition, and performance nutrition market

Photo from Arla Foods Ingredients and Zhongbai Xingye Food Technology Company, Ltd.

Milk- and whey-based ingredients supplier Arla Foods Ingredients (Viby J, Denmark) has signed a new agreement with Zhongbai Xingye Food Technology Company, Ltd. (Beijing, China), part of ingredients distributor Brenntag Group. The agreement continues the two companies’ partnership to bring Arla’s food and beverage, infant nutrition, and performance nutrition ingredients to the China market.

“In a collaboration spanning more than 15 years, the two companies have significantly grown their share of the Chinese market,” a joint press release states. “The new agreement, which is effective immediately, will cover the full range of Arla Foods Ingredients’ business units, focusing on solutions for three key segments”: infant nutrition, performance nutrition, and food and beverage.

The companies note that consumer demand in China is growing for premium infant and toddler nutrition products, as well as for products for sports nutrition and senior nutrition. And in the food and beverage market, “The two companies see strong potential in segments such as bakery and beverages,” the press release added.

The companies jointly fund an Innovation & Application Center in Zhongbai’s Beijing facility where developers work on creating product formulations specifically for the Chinese market. “As part of the new agreement, it will be expanded with additional application-specific capabilities, increasing the potential for products tailored to local market needs,” the companies added.

“We have a great working relationship with Arla Foods Ingredients, whose expertise, capacity, and understanding of market needs has helped both companies grow in China,” stated Michael Friede, CEO of Brenntag Specialties, in the press release. “There’s still potential for major expansion, particularly in key segments like performance nutrition.”

Luis Cubel, commercial director for Arla Foods Ingredients, added, “Demographic changes in China have increased the demand for high-quality products, particularly in the infant nutrition and performance nutrition spaces. This agreement will help us adapt and make our offering to Chinese markets even stronger.”