Malaysian plant-based milk contract manufacturer Pure Mylk and global food processing and packaging leader Tetra Pak has recently announced a strategic partnership to help Malaysian brands develop and launch innovative plant-based functional beverages locally.
The collaboration brings Tetra Pak’s processing technology and packaging capabilities into Pure Mylk’s The Mylky Way – an end-to-end plant-based innovation centre in Pulau Indah, Selangor – offering brands access to advanced R&D capabilities, pilot-scale testing, and collaborative product development support.
This partnership comes at a time when global demand for functional beverages is projected to reach approximately US$759 billion by 2034, driven by consumers who want products that support their physical health. In Malaysia, the plant-based beverage market is also poised for strong growth, projected to increase from US$18.5 billion in 2025 to US$39.7 billion by 2031.
Health-conscious consumers now value functional products like protein-enriched beverages, fortified drinks and functional supplements as much as a healthy diet, exercise, and sleep. This shift is reshaping the food supplements and nutrition (FSN) market globally. Tetra Pak’s research on global health-conscious consumers found that:
- Emotional & Physical Wellbeing: 58% of consumers seek FSN products to support physical health, while 42% cited ‘feeling in control of their health’ as a key emotional driver.
- Convenience-First Formats: 59% of health-conscious consumers prefer Ready-to-Drink (RTD) options for their everyday practicality and on-the-go ease.
- Natural over Synthetic: 71% of consumers favour gradual results from natural sources over quick synthetic alternatives and are willing to pay a premium for those attributes.
Locally, Malaysia is seeing a similar trend. According to GlobalData’s 2024 Q3 Consumer Survey, 7 in 10 Malaysians consider the impact of products on their wellbeing and health when making purchase decisions. Consumers are also seeking convenient, RTD options that fit their lifestyle and values, demonstrating growing interest in functional beverages across the country.
Ingredient innovation is also shaping the FSN category. Sunflower protein is seeing rising interest thanks to its sustainability, allergen‑free profile, complete amino acid composition, and neutral taste suited for RTD beverages. Tetra Pak’s proprietary sunflower protein is processed without chemicals or water, offering brands a cost-effective, clean-label alternative to pea or soy protein.
The Mylky Way brings together ideation, experimentation and co-creation in one space, enabling brands to work with Pure Mylk and Tetra Pak experts to develop formulations, test ingredients, refine concepts and explore packaging formats in a single location. This collaborative approach significantly reduces development timelines and enables emerging or established F&B players to innovate at scale without the need for heavy investment upfront or long import lead times.
Marcelo Perazzo, Managing Director for Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia, Tetra Pak said, “Through the partnership with Pure Mylk, we set a benchmark for Malaysia’s plant-based and functional beverage industry, enabling local brands to innovate, co-pack, and reach regional markets with confidence, speeding up their innovation journey and accelerate their position as market leader.”
