Consumers are no longer separating indulgence from wellness. Today’s café guests, food-service buyers and retail consumers increasingly want products that deliver flavor, convenience and functional benefits in the same experience. Protein in particular has become a mainstream expectation across cafés, hospitality programs and specialty beverage menus.
For brands operating in the café and beverage space, this shift creates enormous opportunity.
Corim Industries is meeting that moment with a new wave of protein-forward product innovation.
With the launch of products like NŌA Protein Ice Cream Mix, Edono Rucci Refresher Mix with Collagen and Edono Rucci Protein Smoothie Mix, these products align directly with where consumer demand is heading.
Why Protein and Functional Beverages Continue to Grow
Protein has evolved far beyond traditional sports nutrition.
Consumers now associate protein with satiety, recovery, energy support and daily wellness routines. Functional beverages that include protein, collagen and other healthy ingredients continue to gain traction because they offer benefits consumers can easily incorporate into everyday habits.
At the same time, café culture itself has changed.
Coffee shops and beverage programs are increasingly expanding beyond traditional offerings as consumers look for beverages that align with wellness-focused lifestyles. Protein smoothies, collagen drinks and functional refreshers continue gaining visibility on café menus because they combine convenience, flavor and functional appeal in a format consumers already enjoy.
Research published through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has explored protein’s role in satiety, muscle maintenance and recovery, helping drive broader interest in protein-forward foods and beverages. Studies have also noted that protein may support lean muscle retention and increase feelings of fullness compared to carbohydrates or fats.
For food-service operators, these products also create operational advantages:
- Premium menu positioning
- Higher perceived value
- Flexible preparation methods
- Broader appeal across demographics
- Increased relevance with wellness-focused consumers
These product launches directly support those trends.
NŌA Protein Ice Cream Mix: Dessert Reimagined
NŌA Protein Ice Cream Mix represents a growing category that blends indulgence with functional nutrition.
Rather than positioning protein desserts as restrictive or overly “healthy,” NŌA focuses on delivering a true dessert experience first. The brand’s mission centers on creating desserts that feel creamy, satisfying and crave-worthy while still fitting into modern wellness routines.
The mixes are designed for use in home ice cream makers and Ninja Creami®-style preparation systems, allowing consumers to create high-protein frozen desserts with a smooth, premium texture.
Current flavors include:
- Chocolate Fudge
- Vanilla Bean
- Strawberries & Cream
- Snickerdoodle
- Caramel Latte
Each mix emphasizes:
- High protein
- Low sugar
- Creamy texture
- Dessert-focused flavor profiles
That positioning matters because consumers increasingly want products that support wellness goals without sacrificing enjoyment.
NŌA reflects a larger industry movement: the demand for better-for-you products that still feel indulgent.
Edono Rucci Refresher Mix with Collagen
Collagen-infused beverages have become increasingly popular within the functional beverage market, particularly among consumers interested in beauty, wellness and lifestyle-oriented nutrition trends.
Market research estimates the global collagen beverage market at more than $383 million in 2023 and is projected to continue growing rapidly through 2030, with increasing demand for collagen-infused drinks tied to wellness, convenience and functional beverage trends.
As cafés and beverage brands continue introducing more functional menu options, collagen drinks offer a way to combine refreshment with ingredients consumers increasingly recognize and seek out.
Edono Rucci Refresher Mix with Collagen was developed to support that growing demand.
The product is designed for flexible beverage preparation, including granita-style service or individually blended drinks, helping cafés and hospitality operators integrate functional beverages into multiple service formats.
That flexibility is increasingly important for operators looking to:
- Expand beverage offerings
- Differentiate menus
- Increase premium drink sales
- Appeal to wellness-conscious guests
Collagen beverages also naturally fit within the broader movement toward functional café menus, where beverages are expected to offer more than just refreshment.
Edono Rucci Protein Smoothie Mix
Protein smoothies remain one of the strongest categories within functional beverages because they bridge convenience, wellness and meal replacement appeal.
Edono Rucci Protein Smoothie Mix was created specifically for today’s café and beverage environments, where operators need versatile products that can support multiple preparation styles and customer preferences.
The mixes feature:
- 10g of protein per smoothie
- Café-inspired flavors
- Flexible preparation methods
- Smooth consistency and drinkability
Flavor options include:
- Café Latte
- Vanilla Freeze
- Zen Matcha
- Authentic Chai
- Chocolate Dream
The mixes can be prepared:
- In granita machines
- One beverage at a time
- As part of customized smoothie recipes
That versatility gives cafés and food-service operators the ability to adapt offerings across different service models without sacrificing consistency.
Just as importantly, these products align with evolving consumer behavior. Many guests now actively seek beverages that support energy, satiation or recovery goals while still delivering café-quality flavor experiences.
Industry reporting continues to show strong momentum in the broader functional beverage category, driven by consumers looking for convenient wellness-focused products that fit naturally into daily routines.
Innovation Driven by Market Demand
One of the most important aspects of these launches is that they reflect real market movement rather than short-term novelty.
Protein beverages, collagen drinks and functional desserts continue to expand because consumers increasingly expect food and beverages to support broader lifestyle goals.
Corim Industries has positioned itself to support brands entering that space through:
- Beverage innovation
- Private label development
- Flexible manufacturing capabilities
- Functional ingredient integration
- Flavor-focused formulation
Through ongoing product development, Corim continues to focus on practical innovation, high-quality flavor and flexible formats that help brands respond to changing consumer preferences and dietary trends.
That combination of functionality and flavor is becoming essential in today’s beverage landscape.
The Future of Functional Beverages Is Already Here
The line between indulgence and wellness is disappearing.
Consumers no longer want to choose between products that taste good and products that support their lifestyle goals. They increasingly expect both.
From high-protein frozen desserts to collagen refreshers and café-ready smoothie mixes, Corim Industries is developing products that reflect where the market is moving next.
As cafés, food-service operators and beverage brands continue searching for innovative ways to meet changing consumer expectations, protein-forward and functional beverages are likely to remain one of the industry’s most important growth categories.
We’ve helped brands develop an extensive range of functional products. The examples below are just a glimpse of what we already do: