What Essentia Protein Solutions does

Essentia Protein Solutions is a privately held B2B ingredient manufacturer founded in 1984 and headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, with a second headquarters in Gråsten, Denmark for international operations. The company produces meat-based protein ingredients — including stocks, broths, functional proteins, flavors, fats, and collagen peptides — derived from animal raw materials (beef, chicken, pork, turkey, fish) and, more recently, from cricket protein. Its core technology centers on enzymatic hydrolysis for collagen peptide production (OmniCol™), Maillard reaction-based flavor development (ProFlavor™), and functional protein engineering for texture, yield, and emulsification in downstream applications (ScanPro™, EmulPro™). The product portfolio spans 200+ ingredient SKUs across five verticals: meat processing, food and savory manufacturing, health and nutrition, pet food, and dairy.

The company sells exclusively to business customers — food manufacturers, meat processors, pet food companies, nutrition brands, and dairy producers — through a direct enterprise field-sales motion, regional innovation centers for co-development and application testing, and participation in major food-ingredient industry events (IFT, Fi Europe, Food Tech Summit). Pricing is quote-based and negotiated per customer and order volume, with no publicly disclosed price list. Geographic reach covers the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific (Thailand for cricket sourcing), and South Africa; product availability varies by region (notably, OmniBug™ cricket protein is not sold in North America, South America, or Europe).

Essentia's business model is a traditional specialty ingredient supplier model: it monetizes through transactional B2B ingredient sales, with custom formulation and co-development partnerships layered on top. The company has expanded via both organic product launches (OmniBug™ in 2023, EmulPro™ dairy line) and inorganic moves (the 2018 acquisition of Scanflavour). It operates USDA-inspected, human-grade production facilities with EU manufacturing approval and GAP certification for select sourcing, supporting its clean-label, allergen-free positioning across both human food and pet food applications.

Name

Essentia Protein Solutions

Legal name

Essentia Protein Solutions

Website

https://essentiaproteins.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Essentia Protein Solutions is a privately held B2B manufacturer of animal-based protein ingredients — stocks, broths, collagen peptides, hydrolyzed proteins, flavors, and fats — selling to food, nutrition, pet food, and dairy manufacturers across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Protein Ingredients

NAICS

Animal Slaughtering and Processing (3116), Meat Processed from Carcasses (311612), Animal Food Manufacturing (3111), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal-Derived Protein Ingredients (Egg, Collagen/Gelatin, Blood/Plasma Proteins) (AFAJAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Protein Hydrolysates & Peptides (Enzymatic Hydrolysates, Bioactive Peptides) (AFAJAHAI), Functional Protein Fractions (Albumins/Globulins, Protein Fibers) (AFAJAHAK), Specialty & Novel Proteins (Single-Cell Protein, Cell-Cultured/Animal-Free Proteins) (AFAJAHAL), Proteins & Functional Nutrition Ingredients (Plant/Animal Proteins, Collagen, Amino Acids) (CRADAOAJ)

Keywords

• Protein ingredients
• Collagen peptides
• Functional meat proteins
• Bone broth powder
• Food ingredient supplier

Headquarters

HQ city

Ankeny

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. B2B Ingredient Sales: Direct B2B sales of protein ingredients to food manufacturers, meat processors, pet food companies, and health nutrition brands. Revenue generated through ingredient product sales with potential for custom formulation partnerships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Essentia Protein Solutions manufactures and sells animal-derived protein ingredients—including stocks, broths, fats, flavors, collagen peptides, hydrolyzed proteins, and functional meat proteins—for use by food manufacturers, meat processors, pet food companies, dairy producers, and health & nutrition brands. Products are derived from beef, chicken, pork, turkey, fish, and crickets, and are positioned as clean-label, allergen-free, and free from artificial ingredients. The company sells its 200+ ingredient portfolio on a B2B basis through direct sales, regional websites, and innovation-center co-development.

Product overview

Essentia Protein Solutions is a meat-based ingredient company providing high-quality animal-derived proteins, collagen peptides, and functional ingredients for food, beverage, and pet food applications. The portfolio centers around four main nutritional product lines: OmniBroth™ (bone broth powders), OmniCol™ (collagen peptides), HydroBEEF™ (hydrolyzed beef proteins), and OmniBug™ (cricket protein). Supporting these are functional ingredient lines including ProFlavor™ (Maillard reaction flavors), ScanPro™ (functional meat proteins), and EmulPro™ (emulsifiers for dairy). Products are derived from beef, chicken, pork, turkey, and fish raw materials, with a focus on clean label, allergen-free formulations. The company operates across meat processing, savory applications, health & nutrition, and pet food segments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OmniBroth™: Collagen-rich bone broth powder available in beef, chicken, and fish variants
• OmniCol™
• HydroBEEF™
• OmniBug™
• OmniFer™
• ScanPro™
• ProFlavor™
• EmulPro™

Products and services

• OmniBroth™ Collagen-rich bone broth powder derived from beef, chicken, or fish. Clean label, high-protein ingredient that blends into fortified bars, snacks, meal replacers, powders, and ready-to-drink beverages, supporting multiple health claims.
• OmniCol™ Enzymatically hydrolyzed collagen peptides available in beef, pork (110, 120, 120+, 210, 210+), and marine (420-01 from tilapia) variants. 95-98% protein, non-gelling, neutral taste and color, dissolves quickly in cold water, supporting joint, muscle, and beauty applications.
• HydroBEEF™ Hydrolyzed beef protein (HydroBEEF™ and HydroBEEF+™) with superior amino acid profile including essential amino acids. 95-99% protein, free from common allergens (unlike whey and soy), used in sports nutrition and functional foods.
• OmniBug™ Superfine cricket protein powder made from partly defatted whole house crickets (Acheta domesticus) from GAP-certified farms in Thailand. Contains all 9 EAAs, vitamin B12, and minerals (magnesium, iron, zinc, calcium). Available in Asia-Pacific and South Africa; not available in North America, South America, or Europe.
• OmniFer™ Protein-rich in heme iron offering highly bioavailable iron combined with high-quality protein. Supports red blood cell production, muscle function, energy, and immune health; ideal for fortifying functional beverages, snacks, nutrition bars, and supplements.
• ProFlavor™ Complete flavor solutions using the Maillard reaction, available in beef, chicken, and pork. Provides protein-based meat flavor, umami effect, enhances salty notes, highly soluble and injectable; maximizes taste at minimal cost.
• ScanPro™ Highly functional meat proteins in chicken, pork, and turkey. Finely ground, injectable proteins that improve yield, purge, texture, and sliceability in fresh and processed meat products. Clean label, phosphate alternative with sodium reduction benefits.
• EmulPro™ Functional ingredients with gelatin-like properties and emulsifying capacity, available in pork (EmulPro™ P 200) and beef (EmulPro™ B 200) variants. Provides firmness, texture, adhesiveness, springiness, and creamy mouthfeel in cheese, mayonnaise, and yogurt applications.
• Essentia Chicken Stock 100% natural chicken broth available in frozen liquid or powder formats, derived from cooking chicken bones with adhering meat under strict USDA inspection. Delivers taste, functionality, mouthfeel, and nutrition, with chicken fat as a natural derivative.
• Essentia Pork Stock 100% natural pork stock in powder form, derived from cooking pork bones with adhering meat under USDA inspection. Building block for bone broths, soups, sauces, gravies, seasonings, and prepared foods.
• Essentia Turkey Broth 100% natural turkey broth in powder format, derived from cooking turkey bones with adhering meat under strict USDA inspection. Delivers taste, functionality, mouthfeel, and nutrition, with shelf-stable turkey fat as natural derivative.

Quantifiable outcome

• Clean label products with no artificial ingredients, phosphates, or major allergens
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• DSM-Firmenich: DSM-Firmenich supplies specialty nutrition, savory, and food ingredients including proteins, hydrolysates, and flavors — competes with Essentia's HydroBEEF™ and ProFlavor™ lines in the health & nutrition and savory segments as part of a much larger, science-led ingredients portfolio.
• ADM (Archer Daniels Midland): ADM's Nutrition segment supplies plant and animal protein ingredients, flavors, and functional ingredients to food and beverage manufacturers worldwide — a broad incumbent that overlaps with Essentia across meat, savory, and health & nutrition ingredient categories.
• Kerry Group: Kerry Group is a global taste and nutrition leader with a broad savory flavor, broth, and functional protein portfolio — competes with Essentia's ProFlavor™ and food & savory ingredients at large multinational CPG accounts but operates at much greater scale across many more categories.
• IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances): IFF (post-DuPont N&B merger) supplies savory flavors, proteins, and food ingredients globally — comparable to Essentia in Maillard-reaction flavors (ProFlavor™) and functional ingredient space but at much larger scale as part of a diversified ingredients portfolio.
• Cargill: Cargill's protein and food ingredients businesses supply meat-derived proteins, broths, and savory solutions globally — overlaps significantly with Essentia's customer base among meat processors and food manufacturers but with broader category and geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Proliant Meat Ingredients: Proliant (part of ICL) produces functional meat proteins, broths, and savory ingredients for processed meat and food manufacturers — a direct comparable to Essentia's ScanPro™ and stock/broth product lines targeting meat processors and savory applications.
• Gelita: Gelita is a global specialist in collagen peptides and gelatin proteins serving nutrition, food, and pharma — competing head-to-head with Essentia's OmniCol™ line on bioactive collagen peptides, sports nutrition, and beauty-from-within applications. Highly comparable on technology (enzymatic hydrolysis) and end-customer base.
• Hofseth BioCare: Hofseth BioCare produces marine collagen peptides and salmon-based protein hydrolysates from Norwegian aquaculture — comparable to Essentia's marine-source collagen (OmniCol™ 420-01 from tilapia) and HydroBEEF™ hydrolysate platforms in the nutrition and functional-food segments.
• Darling Ingredients: Darling Ingredients (parent of Rousselot and Sonac) is one of the largest global producers of collagen peptides, gelatin, and animal-based functional proteins for food, nutrition, and pet food — directly comparable to Essentia's OmniCol™ and ScanPro™ portfolios. It is the dominant mid-to-large-scale direct competitor in animal-derived protein ingredients.
• Weishardt: Weishardt is a privately-held French collagen peptide and gelatin producer serving nutrition, food, and cosmetics — a tight comparable to Essentia on collagen peptide technology, B2B ingredient model, and customer overlap in health & nutrition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@essentiaproteinsolutions
• Facebookfacebook.com/EssentiaProteins
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/essentia-protein-solutions

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Essentia Protein Solutions