Arla Foods Ingredients strengthens US foothold with Valley Queen agreement

Arla Foods Ingredients has signed a contract manufacturing agreement with Valley Queen, strengthening its ability to meet the growing demand for protein-enriched dairy in the US.

The South Dakota-based dairy processor will produce ingredients from the Nutrilac® ProteinBoost product range. The patented microparticulate whey protein concentrate is used to increase protein levels in food and beverage products while retaining texture and taste.

Privately owned and with a team of 440 employees, Valley Queen specializes in high-quality dairy products. It handles around three billion pounds (1.36bn kg) of milk annually and produces 330 million pounds (150M kg) of cheese. Production of Nutrilac® ProteinBoost is expected to begin at the company’s plant in Milbank, SD, in winter 2025/2026, after new specialty equipment has been installed.

Luis Cubel, Group Vice President and Managing Director of Arla Foods Ingredients, said: “Demand for protein-enriched dairy products continues to grow in the US. In order to meet it, and to fulfil our ambitious plans for growth in North America, it was essential for us to significantly increase our capacity for the production of Nutrilac® ProteinBoost. At the same time, it was important for us to choose a partner with the right values, history and expertise. We’re delighted to work with Valley Queen, a company with a long heritage which shares our commitment to producing dairy and whey products of the highest quality.”

Doug Wilke, CEO of Valley Queen, said: “Like us, Arla Foods Ingredients is dedicated to meeting the needs of American manufacturers and consumers. Nutrilac® ProteinBoost is a highly innovative ingredient, which offers the perfect way to create appealing dairy products enriched with high-quality protein. We’re excited to move ahead with its production, and we’re looking forward to a long and productive partnership with a global leader in the whey nutrition space.”