Hindustan Unilever launched Horlicks Protein, a line of fermentation-derived yeast protein powders under the Horlicks brand for everyday nutrition. The range includes unflavoured, chocolate and coffee variants. The unflavoured powder blends 79% yeast protein with 10% whey, while the coffee and chocolate versions use yeast protein without whey and are vegan-friendly.
The coffee variant combines 89% yeast protein with coffee powder, while the chocolate version contains 86% yeast protein blended with cocoa. All three include chicory root, natural flavorings, monk fruit powder, papain and salt. Each 36-gram serving delivers 24 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber, while the protein has a PDCAAS score of 1.0.
Hindustan Unilever says the complete amino acid profile, prebiotic inulin and papain support protein digestion and gut-friendly nutrition. Each 1-kilogram package contains 28 single-serve sachets. The line reflects growing demand for convenient alternative proteins and lets Horlicks expand beyond malted drinks into India’s growing everyday nutrition market.
Image Credit: Horlicks
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Fermentation Protein
- Microbial fermentation is reshaping protein powder development with complete amino acid profiles, scalable production, and broader appeal beyond dairy-based nutrition.
- Gut-friendly Nutrition
- Protein products blended with prebiotic fibers and digestive enzymes signal a shift toward multifunctional formats that combine muscle support with digestive wellness.
- Everyday Vegan Protein
- Mainstream food brands are bringing plant-free vegan protein into daily-use sachets, making alternative nutrition more accessible for mass-market consumers.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Functional Foods
- Established nutrition brands are expanding into fortified powders that merge protein, fiber, and digestive support for everyday health routines.
- Alternative Proteins
- Yeast-derived formulations create new space for non-animal protein innovation with high nutritional quality and flexible flavor applications.
- Consumer Packaged Goods
- Single-serve protein sachets illustrate how legacy brands can translate wellness trends into convenient, affordable formats for emerging markets.
