Today’s consumers expect dairy products to deliver on all counts, combining health benefits with superior sensory experience. Checking those boxes is a major innovation and formulation challenge. In 2025, however, thanks to synergies across TTH, we have helped our customers innovate in this key strategic category.
A world of healthy opportunities
Dairy products have enduring popularity, with market insights consistently highlighting the importance of holistic health among dairy consumers: 54% of global consumers, for instance, look for healthy ingredients in the dairy products they buy.
In practice, this means choosing dairy with clear health advantages, such as high protein, reduced sugar, or added nutrients. Market forecasts confirm this trend, predicting high-protein and low-sugar ranges to grow between 6% and 7% annually up to 2035.
While consumers’ appetite for healthy products is undeniable, it’s also clear they will not compromise on taste: 72% said that taste is the most important factor in their choice of food and drink.
As manufacturers look to balance these overlapping priorities, they also face competition that intensifies the need for product differentiation. At the same time, producers must comply with evolving regulatory requirements: these include taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages in more than 100 countries, with discussions underway to extend these policies to sugary dairy drinks, as well as growing demands for clean-labelling and natural ingredients.
For producers who can address these interlocking challenges at speed, significant commercial rewards await. Yogurt production today is an intricate science, with complex ingredients and process interactions impacting the taste and texture profile. Increasing protein levels and reducing sugar in yogurt formulations can be particularly challenging, as this can have a significant effect on sensory properties. At dsm-firmenich, we have the capabilities to solve this formulation puzzle.
Innovating in the overlap
Our scientific knowledge and application expertise allow us to work across the dairy value chain, with a clear understanding of how milk composition, ingredients, and processing steps interact to shape the final quality of yogurt.
In 2025, for example, we continued enhancing the combination range of ingredients that impact taste, quality, and sustainability of sweetness and texture in high-protein yogurt.
These include our Maxilact® enzymes, which reduce sugar levels by up to 20%; Delvo®ONE bioprotective cultures, which, as well as delivering optimal taste and texture, extend shelf life and accelerate progress on sustainable food systems; and our TASTEGEM® technology for amplifying natural sweetness – all delivered alongside our advanced peptide formulations containing all 20 amino acids in an easily absorbable format. Uniting the art of taste with the science of health and texture, our teams found new ways to address consumers’ overlapping health and sensory expectations.
The fruits of collaboration
Much of this progress has been made possible by the continued integration of taste and ingredients capabilities across TTH. These ongoing synergies ensure that we can support the fresh dairy industry more deeply than any other industry player, strengthening our position as a reliable, end-to-end partner.
Central to our customer partnerships are our talented, passionate people, who deliver the full spectrum of technical and business expertise. This includes bespoke advice on optimizing recipes and production processes to ensure that producers realize their sugar and protein goals while also maximizing taste and texture.
As yogurt producers face changing consumer demands, they need a partner who can address overlapping priorities. 2025 saw our teams embrace that challenge, uniting health and delight for dairy brands worldwide.
Our expertise and ability to solve the most complex challenges goes far beyond yogurt production, extending across all dairy applications. Our know-how makes us the co-creation and application partner to deliver dairy quality without compromise. As consumers continue to seek dairy that supports their health and delights their taste buds, TTH is in a strong position to help our customers thrive.