December 16, 2025
Westpro is considering exhibiting at next year’s Supply Side Global trade show in the United States following strong interest in our products at this year’s event in Las Vegas in October.
It was the first year Westpro staff have attended the two-day event which is one of the largest global trade shows for supplement, food and beverage innovation. It attracted more than 1600 exhibitors and 20,000 attendees, many of whom work in procurement, innovation and research and development areas of global supplement and food and beverage companies.
Focus on colostrum leadership and lactoferrin investment
Westpro’s Global Sales Manager for Bioactives and Nutritionals, Susan Coveney, says attending this year’s show allowed us to meet most of our US-based customers for bioactives, colostrum and lactoferrin at one location. We also connected with potential customers and networked with competitors, researchers and other New Zealand companies targeting similar industries. This is a great way to ensure we stay ahead of market needs and keep pace with emerging evidence.
Our main goal was to strengthen the relationships with our colostrum customers, but we also spoke about our investment in our lactoferrin plant, and new capability in that space. While we are not yet selling lactoferrin in the US, colostrum is highly sought after by our US consumers. It was important to reinforce our points of difference and educate our customers on what makes our colostrum product special, given its premium position.
Opportunities for collaboration with adjacent products emerged during the trip. Collagen is huge and features heavily in Japan, Korea and the US. Differentiating a collagen product by combining with the powerful benefits of colostrum and lactoferrin or combining with probiotics for elevated microbiome support are just a few examples.
Customer inquiries highlighted strong interest in our unique approach to colostrum collection and processing. With the rise of low-cost colostrum products of questionable quality, it is essential that we continue to provide customers with education about the advantages of using a premium quality product. By emphasising our points of difference – such as grass-fed, free-range sourcing, rigorous processing standards, and commitment to animal welfare – alongside scientific evidence, we reinforce our premium positioning in the market.
Emerging ingredient trends
‘Precision Fermentation’ – several companies showcased their precision fermented proteins. Whilst some are producing whey and casein for food applications, many are producing lactoferrin, and have plans to expand their regulatory acceptance, including for infants. Whether these products deliver comparable bioactivity to native bovine and human lactoferrin is yet to be seen confirmed.
‘GLP-1 friendly’ (weight management) ingredients designed to pack maximum protein and nutrients into small, convenient formats (protein bites and bars, functional beverages and convenience foods).
‘Peptides’ – collagen peptides were everywhere, each with their own unique source and digestibility claims. The rise of GLP-1 medications which are reportedly a form of peptide has propelled the word peptide into the lives of many health-conscious consumers.
Market insights
‘Clean Ingredients’ – customers are looking for ingredients, particularly in the protein space, that are free from or low in contaminants such as heavy metals, inhibitory substances, antibiotics and hormones.
‘Fem-Health’ – proliferation of ingredients and products to address all stages of a woman’s life and health, particularly around peri and post menopause.
‘Mind, Mood and Sleep’ – a number of new and old ingredients reinvented to address stress, anxiety, study, mood-disorders and assist with restful sleep.
Sustainability and collaboration
Sustainability, environmental, grass-fed, non-genetically modified and animal-welfare claims were still prominent.
To learn more about Westpro’s leading bioactive ingredients, contact Susan Coveney, Global Sales Manager, Bioactives and Nutritionals.
