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# Axiom Foods and NNB Nutrition Forge Strategic Alliance to Lead the "Protein+" Revolution in Plant-Based Nutrition
- URL: https://www.flavorist.com/axiom-foods-and-nnb-nutrition-forge-strategic-alliance-to-lead-the-protein-revolution-in-plant-based-nutrition/
- Published: 2026-07-11T10:41:34.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-11T10:56:47.000Z
- Author: Editor

**The partnership tackles the $437.6 billion functional food market by combining Axiom's plant-protein expertise with NNB's novel functional ingredients and advanced sweetening technologies.**

**LOS ANGELES, July 10, 2026** – Axiom Foods, a leading U.S. supplier of plant-based protein ingredients, and NNB Nutrition, a pioneer in novel functional ingredients, today announced a strategic partnership to help brands formulate the next generation of "Protein+" functional plant-based nutrition products .

The collaboration aims to serve the booming global demand for functional food ingredients, a market currently valued at **$437.6 billion** and projected to reach **$983.2 billion by 2034**, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.7% . The companies will showcase their combined capabilities at the IFT 2026 event in Chicago from July 12-15 at booth #1426 .

## The "Gateway Nutrient" Meets Functional Innovation

The partnership addresses the rapidly growing "Protein+" trend, where protein serves as a foundation for delivering multiple targeted health benefits in a single product . According to David Janow, Founder and CEO of Axiom Foods, "The percentage of food and beverage launches with a high protein or added protein claim has doubled over the past 10 years. Protein has become the 'gateway nutrient'" .

This trend is partly fueled by the widespread adoption of GLP-1 medications, now used by approximately **15 million American adults (12% of the population)**, who require nutrient-dense supplementation to support reduced food intake of 20-30% .

## Complementary Strengths for Formulation Excellence

Axiom Foods brings over 20 years of plant-protein expertise with its extensive portfolio of rice, pea, fava, chickpea, pumpkin proteins, and oat/rice milks . The company's flagship products include **Oryzatein®** rice protein, which set industry standards for FDA GRAS status and heavy metal specifications, and clear protein solutions like **VegOtein™ CLEAR** pea protein and **Oryzatein® CLEAR** rice protein for low-pH beverage applications .

NNB Nutrition contributes a robust portfolio of science-based functional ingredients targeting healthy aging, cognitive function, mood, hydration, and metabolic health . Their ingredient roster includes **GeniusPure® Alpha-GPC** for cognitive performance, **HydroPrime®** for hydration, **MitoBurn®** for metabolic health, and **DL 185®** , a dipeptide that enhances protein effectiveness .

## Overcoming the Taste Barrier

One of the most significant challenges in plant-based nutrition has been taste—plant proteins often carry earthy or grainy notes, while functional actives can introduce bitterness or lingering aftertastes . The partnership directly addresses this through NNB's **SweetVantage®** and **SweetVantage®+** technologies.

SweetVantage® features patented **Stevia Reb M9**, which has demonstrated superior performance in electronic tongue and sensory testing compared to other natural sweeteners . The enhanced SweetVantage®+ adds **brazzein**, a naturally sweet, calorie-free protein that masks bitterness and delivers sweetness comparable to artificial sweeteners .

"Consumers already understand the need for more protein in their diet, and the demand for plant proteins is high and growing as a result of the price and lack of availability of whey," said Kylin Liao, Founder and President of NNB Nutrition . "The opportunity now is to use protein as a vehicle to add targeted, science-based functional ingredients" .

## Market Applications and Product Development

The partnership focuses on a wide range of applications, including:

- Plant-based dairy and sugar-free beverages
- Ready-to-drink (RTD) products
- Protein powders and stick packs
- Active nutrition formats

Axiom's portfolio includes innovative offerings such as **AvenOlait®** (whole grain oat dairy alternative), **Cucurbotein™** (pumpkin protein), and **VegOtein™** line of pea, fava, and chickpea proteins . The company's **Oryzatein® 2.0** rice protein has recently set new standards with pristine color, improved solubility, and no measurable levels of lead .

## About the Partners

**Axiom Foods** has led the plant-based protein ingredient revolution for more than two decades, with ingredients used in thousands of foods, beverages, and nutraceuticals globally . Their proprietary manufacturing processes and commitment to clean-label solutions have made them a trusted partner for brands developing dairy-free beverages, protein-enhanced products, and functional nutrition products .

**NNB Nutrition** operates at the forefront of ingredient innovation, engineering molecules with precision rather than relying on traditional extraction methods . With over 60 patents filed and more than a dozen novel ingredients brought to market, NNB has established itself as a leader in setting the pace of innovation in the nutraceutical industry .

For more information, visit Axiom Foods at booth #1426 during IFT 2026 or contact:

- Axiom Foods: Alyson Dutch, Brown & Dutch PR, 310.456.7151
- NNB Nutrition: Dustin Elliott, 305.778.8188

**Source:** Axiom Foods and NNB Nutrition

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