Axiom Foods and NNB Nutrition Forge Strategic Alliance to Lead the "Protein+" Revolution in Plant-Based Nutrition
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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