Essentia Protein Solutions made a powerful statement, both in terms of innovation and industry leadership, by introducing its campaign, “Bring Back the Joy of Meat.” At this year’s IFFA, the company, a global leader in protein-based food ingredients, presented a comprehensive portfolio of solutions designed to elevate the meat experience while addressing modern consumer expectations around health, taste, cost-efficiency, and sustainability.
A legacy of protein innovation
With over 40 years of industry experience and a strong presence across global markets, Essentia has become synonymous with premium functional proteins derived from a variety of animal sources, including beef, pork, poultry, lamb, fish, and even crickets.
“As the name suggests, we offer protein-based solutions, all derived from various species of farm animals — cows, pigs, lamb, and chicken — and we also have ingredients derived from fish and even crickets. But essentially, it’s all about proteins.”
– Irene Plats, Global Marketing & Sustainability Director at Essentia Protein Solutions.
Essentia operates across four main market segments:
- Meat: Their largest and most developed segment, focusing on functional protein solutions that improve texture, juiciness, and overall quality of processed meats.
- Savory: Stocks and broths cooked the traditional way — by simmering bones for rich, natural flavor—are used in soups, sauces, and ready meals.
- Nutrition: Protein and collagen solutions for sports, active, and general wellness nutrition.
- Pet Food: Adapted versions of their food-grade ingredients help enhance protein intake and palatability in pet diets.
“Bring Back the Joy of” –Reclaiming Its reputation
At IFFA 2025, Essentia’s campaign “Bring Back the Joy of Meat” took center stage, with a strong emotional and functional appeal. “Over the past 10 years, meat has received a lot of criticism,” Irene Plats noted. The initiative aims to remind consumers and processors alike that meat can still be a joyful, nutritious, and sustainable part of everyday diets and celebrations.
“We believe meat still has a strong place, especially in family meals and celebrations. We want to inject more optimism and joy back into the meat sector.”
– Irene Plats.
Game-changing innovation: ExcelPro Plus Fat Marbling
One important product shown at Essentia’s IFFA was ExcelPro Plus Fat Marbling, which allows meat processors to mimic the rich texture and appearance of real marbled meat.
“It’s actually made artificially, but with natural ingredients. We use a binding system — including hydrocolloids — to help the fat stay in place. It mimics natural marbling and improves both flavor and tenderness.”
– Irene Plats.
This technology makes eating more enjoyable and also helps manufacturers get more useful products out of their raw materials, so lower-grade meats can be turned into top-of-the-line dishes.
A realistic and positive forecast for what will happen in the future
Essentia pays much attention to being sustainable in their products and in their ways of doing business. All manufacturing plants of the company are FSSC 22000 certified, and they are aiming for SMETA certification to help with ethical sourcing, ethical labor standards, and transparency in the supply chain.
This is why the business is now giving internal training to its worldwide sales staff to help them talk with customers about sustainability.
“It’s not just about ingredients — it’s also about how we work, our working conditions, and the ethics across our supply chain,”
“Some of our customers are far along in their sustainability journey; others are just beginning. We want to be there to support them at every stage.”
– Irene Plats.
Expansion into new countries with lots of potential for growing further
Though Essentia is widely known in Europe and North America, the business aims to expand into regions where its presence is still not very strong, including Africa, India, and Southeast Asia. Although there are cultural and legal differences in some countries, local teams and up-to-date compliance systems at Essentia help the company enter markets quickly.
While IFFA serves as a platform to showcase innovation, Irene Plats emphasized that for Essentia, the event is more about deepening existing partnerships than generating new leads. “It’s about loyalty and long-term collaboration. We’re not necessarily here to collect new leads — though we welcome them,” she noted. Reflecting on the show’s atmosphere, she appreciated the continued engagement from both German SMEs and international visitors.
“I’m especially curious to see how others are tackling sustainability — it’s something I plan to explore across the show floor,”
“Essentia’s post-IFFA priorities will center on rolling out their sustainability roadmap and continuing to support their customers’ evolving needs with innovative, clean-label protein solutions. “There’s constantly enough work to do,”
– Irene Plats
Their commitment to new ideas, being eco-friendly, and providing quality means Essentia Protein Solutions isn’t only helping meat stay part of our meals —they’re giving it a brighter future.