Dairy and ice cream

Consumers are increasingly aware of the importance of health and well-being, and how food and good nutrition play an important role in everyday life. Naturally healthy, better-for-you options are also drivers in the dairy, beverage, and ice cream categories.

With over 300 patents, Valio can provide dairy food manufacturers around the world with commercial advantages. We enable our customers to increase their competitiveness with value-adding products that respond to the latest food trends. Our modern and market-proven technologies help to reduce sugar, manufacture protein enriched dairy products, improve nutritional values, and start the production of lactose free products.

Food safety and quality management

Valio’s high-quality milk powders are made from fresh Finnish milk that is among the cleanest in the world, containing no trace antibiotics. This is possible by committing to a sustainable production, enabling transparent sourcing traceable all the way back to the farms. Our operations and products aim to exceed international and regional food standards, regulations, and nutritional recommendations. Why choose Valio.

Digestive wellness and gut-friendly foods are driving growth and opening new business possibilities for dairies. About 70% of the population globally are lactose intolerant, and consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the relationship between lactose-free dairy and digestive comfort. Lactose intolerant or not, people are not willing to compromise on either taste or nutrition. This reality offers a range of opportunities for food manufacturers – from premium offerings to innovative product development with concrete consumer benefits.

World-leading expertise in lactose free milk technology

In 2001, Valio launched the world’s first totally lactose free milk made with our unique patented technology – and it was an immediate hit. Since then, we have grown lactose free dairy into a significant business internationally. We currently have over 100 lactose free products sold in Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia. We continue to develop the market by creating new lactose free solutions every year across all dairy categories.

You can develop new products with our decades of expertise in lactose free milk and the special features of lactose hydrolysed powders and patented technologies backed by technical industry experts.

Valio can offer recipe and application design alongside test batches. Valio’s market-tested innovations and know-how in introducing new products include not just R&D, but also expert branding, conceptualisation and communication. Let us help you develop your business with a reliable partner and take your dairy products to the next level.

Avoiding sugar is a clear trend among all consumers, and they are increasingly conscious of sugar levels in different food products. They also seek naturality, which means simple, all-natural ingredients, and a short and understandable list of ingredients. At the same time, they want to enjoy the taste and texture of food.

Sugar makes flavoured dairy drinks, spoonable products, and ice cream taste sweet. Sugar also affects the mouthfeel, texture, colour, and viscosity of the products. The challenge for dairy manufacturers is how to balance the customer’s need for sugar reduction, naturality, and indulgence.

Valio has developed solutions for sugar reduction. With Valio ingredients, application and process know-how, dairy food manufacturers can reduce sugar levels without having to use artificial sweeteners.

Reduced sugar and great taste without artificial sweeteners

The carbohydrate content in dairy products is the sum of added sugar and lactose. Valio’s solution for dairy processing reduces sugar levels in a way that does not compromise other important product qualities, like texture or taste. It is possible to reduce the sugar level by as much as 30%. Our technical experts are happy to help design the recipes and processes.

Protein is an essential nutrient in the human diet. High-protein foods are gaining in popularity among mainstream consumers because of their health benefits. Thus, they offer new commercial potential for dairy manufacturers.

Dairy products, in particular, are a natural and effective source of protein. However, high-protein dairy goods are challenging to manufacture because added protein often gives dairy products an undesirable taste and grainy texture. We at Valio have solved this problem; therefore, we can help dairy manufacturers produce high-protein dairy products with excellent texture and taste.

High-protein dairy products that taste good and have excellent sensory properties

Our solution can easily be incorporated into your current dairy production processes and does not compromise the sensory properties of the products. We can help you in designing recipes and processes, so that you can manufacture high-protein dairy products efficiently and accurately with the optimal composition of ingredients.

Indulgence products and the high-protein trend - protein products are going mainstream

We are currently witnessing a protein boom, and not just in a fitness-oriented target group but among all consumers. As a result, the market for products with a ‘protein source’ claim is growing rapidly. The protein boom is especially strong in younger generations, which builds a solid foundation for long-term growth in protein enriched products.

Protein is a component that consumers want to add more of into their diet, also in the indulgence category. High-protein indulgence products, such as chocolate puddings, help consumers balance between deliciousness and healthy connotations. Meet the trend of protein enriched and nutritious food products by adding the benefits of high-quality milk protein to your portfolio.