The food giant hopes its new infant formula will help power growth.
Nestlé has identified its new infant formula as a “key contributor to growth” for 2025.
Sold under Nestlé’s NAN brand, Sinergity is the only infant formula in the world containing six human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) and the probiotic Bifidobacterium infantis.
It’s believed this product development will help unlock important market opportunities for Nestlé, which is eyeing premium and super premium formula markets to drive further growth.
What makes Nestlé’s NAN Sinergity stand out?
Sinergity is unique in that it blends B. infantis LMG11588 probiotic with six HMOs. Probiotics help support the gut microbiome and the immune system during infant development, while HMOs support intestinal microbiota development and the immune system during early life.
HMOs are complex sugars found in breastmilk. Instead of being digested by infants, they serve as a food source for good bacteria in the gut.
The combination of these two components in one formulation is significant. The probiotic strain can absorb and metabolise HMOs, producing “key beneficial compounds” that bring added benefits. This results in a dominance of beneficial gut bacteria and stronger immunity in infants, according to Nestlé.
Since the makeup of HMOs in breastmilk changes during the lactation period, products containing the new blend have varying levels of the six different HMOs. For Nestlé, the development is “groundbreaking”.
“NAN Sinergity is the first and only formula in the world with six HMOs and B. infantis probiotics – as validated by Mintel,” a Nestlé spokesperson explains. “Inspired by breastmilk, our new proprietary blend of six age-adapted HMOs in combination with B. infantis and B. lactis, working in synergy, delivers six key benefits backed by clinical evidence.”
These benefits include support for immunity, growth, brain development, bone health, muscle development and digestion.
Why is Nestlé betting big on infant formula for growth?
Nestlé is one of a few dominant players in the global infant formula market. Others include Danone, Abbott Laboratories, Reckitt Benckiser, and Perrigo.
Although Nestlé is gaining market share and momentum for its NAN brand continues to build, sales have been declining for its other infant nutrition brands Gerber and Nido. The FMCG giant sees opportunity in the high-end formula market, and it’s not alone.
Globally, the infant formula market is predicted to grow from $60bn (€52.5bn) in 2023 to $85bn by 2029 (Research and Markets), “spurred” in part by the introduction of specialty formulas.
Sinergity is a premium offering backed by clinical evidence, explains the Nestlé spokesperson. “Therefore, this innovation shows potential to drive further growth in the super premium and premium formula segment.”
Where are the premium market opportunities in infant formula?
Nestlé first launched Sinergity in Hong Kong, before focusing on Europe. The product is now being rolled out globally to markets in Latin America and the Middle East. Launches are also expected in some parts of Asia later this year.
These are the markets in which Nestlé initially sees opportunity for premium and super premium infant formula.
Sinergity is not always sold under the NAN brand – a strategy designed to help market penetration. The product launched under NAN in Europe, but in countries where Nestlé’s equivalent flagship brands exist, the company is using those to introduce the new product.
In Germany, Sinergity was launched under BEBA, in the UK and Ireland under SMA, and in France under Guigoz.
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