UK – Arla Foods Ingredients (AFI), global leader in natural whey ingredients for products in a range of categories, has been recognized with the 2018 Global Product Leadership Award for developing an innovative infant formula ingredient, Lacprodan OPN-10.

According to the company, this recognition was based on the recent analysis of the global infant nutrition market, Frost & Sullivan.

Lacprodan OPN-10 is rich in osteopontin, a protein that standard infant formulas have significantly lower content compared to human breast milk.

AFI’s strong emphasis on research and development and its global footprint allow the company to anticipate and meet customer needs through value-added products.

Arla AMBA, the mother company of AFI, has more than 10,000 farmers and some of the largest dairies in the world, which gives AFI a complete control over the value chain.

Its farmers follow an intensive quality control program that includes numerous audits and compliance with rules regarding the treatment of cows, filtering of contaminants, and extraction and delivery of high-quality milk.

“After identifying that human milk has up to 20 times more osteopontin than conventional infant formula, AFI worked diligently to bring the osteopontin content in its offerings on par with human milk concentrations.

Consequently, it pioneered the commercial use of osteopontin in infant formula with its product Lacprodan OPN-10,” said Arun Ramesh, Industry Analyst at Frost & Sullivan.

AFI’s focus on sustainability, operational excellence, and dedication to meeting and exceeding regulatory requirements has positioned it for continued and accelerated growth in the infant formula market.

Furthermore, AFI’s powerful partnerships with leading universities, non-governmental organizations, and other thought leaders endow it with a comprehensive knowledge base that serves as a foundation for innovation.

“AFI’s ambitious quality strategy elevates the company to a leader status in the market,” noted Ramesh.

“Its commitment to technology innovation and strategic collaborations have given it a significant competitive advantage, and the company expects to make the most of it by expanding to numerous new markets in the future.”

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that develops a product with innovative features and functionality that is gaining rapid market acceptance.

The award recognizes the quality of the solution and the customer value enhancements it enables.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development.

Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.