The company will spend the money on a seventh production line at its plant based in Anderson, central Indiana but says the installation won’t be finished until at least 2014.
Nestlé also produces Nesquik and Coffee-Mate at the plant (which opened in 2009) but was guarded when asked how it saw demand for protein-based drinks rising, and who such drinks appealed to.
‘State-of-the-art’ Anderson factory
Edie Burge, corporate and brand affairs, Nestle USA, told BeverageDaily.com: “We began producing BOOST Complete Nutritional Drinks at the Nestlé Anderson Factory in 2010.
“This Factory’s state-of-the-art beverage technology has helped us more fully delight our consumers with a new and improved user experience,” he added.
“With addition of another line in 2014 we will be taking advantage of the Nestlé Anderson Factory technology for our Carnation Breakfast Essentials ready-to-drink format,” Burge said “As well as meeting growing consumer demand for both products.”
Despite this lack of detail, during the BOOST re-launch in July 2011 Carol Siegel, head of medical affairs at Nestlé Healthcare Nutrition, said inadequate nutrient intake was common in older adults.
Meeting senior nutrition needs
BOOST comes in powder and RTD varieties, and the Original liquid version (pictured left) contains 10g of protein to help maintain muscle mass and calcium and Vitamin D to support bone health.
The changing tastes of older people, their decreasing appetite and lower energy levels made preparing and eating healthy meals more challenging, Siegel explained in 2011, with BOOST marketed as a convenient way for older adults to meet nutrition goals.
Burge referred us to Nestlé corporate affairs in Vevey, when asked if the firm envisaged adding more ‘functional’ drinks brands to its portfolio in future to cater for specific health and nutrition needs.
This is in light of a climate in Europe where brands seem more interested in exploiting EFSA-approved Article 13.1 (general function) health claims – around protein for instance – rather than submitting proprietary claims under Article 13.5.