New ingredient concept for seniors proves that ‘age is just a number’
Arla Foods Ingredients has launched Nutrilac® Ageless, a new whey protein + calcium ingredient that will enable dairy companies to create yoghurts and desserts for active seniors who reject the idea that they are ‘old’.
This year, Europe will have twice as many consumers aged 55 to 74 than young people aged 15 to 24– a trend that is mirrored elsewhere in the world – highlighting the growing importance of this demographic group to food manufacturers. Older people tend to be more focused on maintaining good health than younger shoppers, presenting an opportunity for dairy companies to develop products that help them live their lives to the full.
Nutrilac® Ageless taps into this opportunity by offering an ingredient concept that makes it easy for dairy companies to produce 100% natural whey protein and calcium-rich stirred yoghurts and fermented desserts that will appeal to older consumers. Significantly, shoppers aged 50 to 64 spend 50% more on food and drink than the under 30s, highlighting the strong commercial potential that older people represent. 
Kasia Kandulski Lindegaard, Marketing & Business Development Manager at Arla Foods Ingredients, said: “For millions of older people today, age is just a number. They don’t consider themselves to be ‘old’ and see no reason why they can’t continue to live a full and active life. However, they also understand that they are not as young as they were, and that they need to ensure they eat well to stay fit and healthy.”
She continued: “Nutrilac® Ageless gives dairy companies the key to this profitable market. Research shows that 81% of consumers understand the value of protein in their diet, and awareness of the importance of calcium to maintain healthy bones is also very high. This means manufacturers will already be pushing at an open door when they market high protein and calcium products based on Nutrilac® Ageless.”
The secret to success, says Kasia, is to create products that don’t make senior consumers feel like they are elderly. “Older consumers value highly nutritious products in small portion sizes, because they tend to eat smaller portions and less often than younger people. However, it’s important not to overplay that a product is aimed at seniors. Instead, dairy companies should focus on the benefits of the product which, in the case of Nutrilac® Ageless, will really resonate with shoppers of advancing years because it offers them more of the key nutrients they really need in a product type and format they already enjoy eating.”
