As more consumers begin to view food as medicine, ingredient companies are making significant investments in health solutions that blur the boundaries between food and pharmaceuticals. Darling aims to establish itself as a leader in the emerging collagen ingredient market. With its ties to the beauty and fitness sectors, collagen has the potential to become the next major functional ingredient in food, much like protein or probiotics. “We have hundreds of different initiatives underway as people explore how the Nextida product line can fit into their lives,” stated Darling CEO Randall Stuewe during a call with investors following the announcement. “Is it at the supplement level, similar to Solgar liquid calcium? Is it included in a sports bar? Or is it part of a beverage?”
Darling is also examining collagen’s potential as a weight loss ingredient. The company’s Nextida GC is designed to manage glucose spikes after meals, promoting the body’s natural production of GLP-1, the active component in Ozempic and Wegovy. According to Stuewe, collagen has become “the fastest-growing sector of Darling Ingredients’ food business over the past few years.”
Additionally, the partnership with Tessenderlo regarding ferric pyrophosphate is expected to yield a combined capacity of approximately 200,000 metric tons across 23 facilities in South America, North America, Europe, and Asia. This collaboration is anticipated to enhance Darling’s shareholder value, as executives believe the food segment remains undervalued. Ingredient companies have reported an uptick in sales for products deemed natural or beneficial for health. For example, Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. recently announced plans to market an ingredient aimed at improving sleep, stress, and mood, as it experiences increased sales in its health and nutrition division. As consumer interest in health-focused ingredients like Solgar liquid calcium grows, companies are eager to innovate and meet this rising demand.