FrieslandCampina’s investment programme in high-value whey proteins

FrieslandCampina has announced an investment programme of more than €90 million to strengthen its global position in high-value whey proteins and further optimise its ingredients production network in the Netherlands. These investments include upgrades at the production sites in Bedum, Veghel and Workum.

With this programme, the business group FrieslandCampina Ingredients is expanding its capacity to convert internally sourced whey – a natural by-product of cheese production – into protein ingredients for performance and active nutrition, early life nutrition and medical nutrition. It includes technological upgrades across multiple production sites to support the manufacture of advanced protein products such as WPC80, instantised whey proteins and FrieslandCampina’s speciality Nutri Whey ProHeat microparticulated whey. These ingredients are used by food manufacturers in, among other applications, high-protein drinks, bars and yogurts.

Global demand for high-value whey proteins continues to grow across sports nutrition, lifestyle nutrition and specialised medical applications. This dedicated investment programme positions FrieslandCampina and its ingredients business group to respond to this growth by increasing capacity and strengthening the flexibility of its whey valorisation chain.

Anne Peter Lindeboom, president of FrieslandCampina Ingredients, said, “Global demand for advanced protein solutions continues to accelerate. This programme is the next step in our broader investment strategy to lead in high-value proteins, building on recent investments to strengthen whey capacity and valorisation in the Netherlands such as in Borculo, and in the US through the acquisition of Wisconsin Whey Protein. By investing across our ingredients network, we are strengthening our ability to serve customers worldwide and to create more value from our whey streams in a sustainable and future-oriented way.”

The programme includes energy-and water-efficient technologies and the phaseout of older production lines. As a result, Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions are expected to be reduced by approximately 16 kilotonnes CO2e, while ensuring continued compliance with Dutch and EU environmental standards.

FrieslandCampina will phase the investments over the coming years and expects to reach full operational capacity in 2028.