Fonterra-Backed Vivici Puts ‘Pink Gold’ Into Everyday Wellness

A tropical drink for gut health, an iron-support capsule and a protein-packed soda. Fonterra-backed Vivici is offering a taste of where everyday nutrition could be heading, with products designed to fit around people’s lives. The Dutch company will showcase its latest concepts at SupplySide Global in Las Vegas this month. They’re ideas for brands to develop, rather than products heading straight onto supermarket shelves.

At the heart of its wellness pitch is lactoferrin, an iron-binding protein sometimes called “pink gold”. Vivici makes it through precision fermentation and is exploring its potential in supporting iron balance and gut health. One concept combines lactoferrin with iron and vitamin C; another puts it into a coconut-and-golden-pineapple drink mix with prebiotic fibre and probiotics. For consumers, the appeal could be a simple daily addition with a clear purpose, provided the finished products deliver on their promise.

For those looking to lift their protein intake, Vivici is also showing an Italian lemon soda and a small mangosteen lassi shot delivering 25g of protein in just 100ml. These use its separate BLG whey protein ingredient, rather than lactoferrin. The attraction is easy to see: more choice beyond the familiar thick shake, especially for people who want their protein in something refreshing or small enough to drink in a few mouthfuls.

For New Zealand, Fonterra’s involvement makes this particularly interesting. Through its stake in Vivici, the dairy co-operative has a foothold in producing valuable dairy proteins without extracting them from cows milk. That could open additional opportunities in health, wellness and active nutrition, extending the ways its protein expertise reaches consumers.

Lactoferrin supplements already exist, so this is no clear-cut world first. The more useful question is whether fermentation can make these ingredients accessible to more people. Taste, price and credible benefits will decide that. A good concept gets attention at a trade show. A product people enjoy, can afford and find useful earns a place in the daily routine.

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