GELITA is inviting food and beverage professionals attending the IFT FIRST Annual Event & Expo, taking place from July 12–15, 2026, to visit booth #3214 and explore how collagen-based ingredients can help brands address growing consumer demand for wellness-focused and protein-enriched products.

Centered around the theme, "Be Active! Rethink Protein. Elevate Active Nutrition with Collagen Peptides," GELITA will present a range of scientifically supported ingredient solutions designed to help manufacturers develop food and beverage products that combine nutritional benefits with appealing taste, texture, and functionality.

Consumers today are taking a more preventative and lifestyle-oriented approach to health, creating increased demand for products that promote active living, healthy aging, weight management, and overall wellness. Additionally, changing dietary behaviors associated with GLP-1 therapies are driving interest in nutrient-dense products that provide enhanced nutrition in smaller serving sizes. This shift presents manufacturers with the challenge of creating products that are both highly functional and enjoyable to consume.

"GELITA enables manufacturers to rethink the role of protein in product development," said Angie Rimel, Marketing Communications Manager – North America. "Our collagen peptides and gelatin solutions help brands create wellness-oriented foods and beverages that deliver meaningful functional benefits without compromising on taste, texture, or consumer experience."

Be Active! Rethink Protein.
From functional beverages and protein bars to gummies and better-for-you snacks, GELITA's collagen-based ingredients support manufacturers in developing products aligned with today's key consumer preferences:

Visitors to the GELITA booth will have the opportunity to learn how collagen peptides and gelatin can create new possibilities within the functional food and beverage sector while addressing the increasing demand for convenient, nutrient-rich products.

Elevating Active Nutrition with OPTIBAR
As consumer demand for convenient, protein-packed snacks continues to rise, product developers face persistent challenges related to texture, binding performance, and sensory quality. GELITA's OPTIBAR collagen protein solution helps manufacturers optimize protein formulations by enhancing protein content while improving texture, structure, and overall eating experience.

For applications such as cereal bars, granola bars, and high-protein snack bars, OPTIBAR addresses common formulation challenges, including stickiness, brittleness, and undesirable flavors, helping brands create active nutrition products that encourage repeat purchases.

Functional Collagen Peptides for Beverage Applications
Interest in active nutrition beverages continues to grow as consumers seek convenient solutions to support their wellness goals throughout the day. GELITA's Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP) provide beverage manufacturers with the flexibility to develop functional drinks that support beauty-from-within, mobility, and active lifestyles, while also offering clean-label advantages and formulation versatility.

Chosen from thousands of entries worldwide, GALY secured a place among the Top 3 finalists in the Water, Food & Agriculture category at the Edison Awards. The company earned the Silver award for its Biocrafted Cocoa & Cotton platform, an innovative system that cultivates natural materials in controlled tank environments rather than relying on conventional field farming.

A Landmark Moment on the International Stage
At the Edison Awards gala, GALY’s chocolate was showcased in a live tasting event alongside NextCoa, a cocoa-free chocolate alternative created by Cargill and Voyage Foods. Both innovations address the future of chocolate production from different angles: NextCoa replicates chocolate flavors using alternative plant ingredients, while GALY cultivates chocolate directly from cacao cells grown in tanks.

During the tasting, a participant described GALY’s chocolate as “Divine,” highlighting not only its flavor profile but also the disruptive promise of its production technology.

GALY also gained visibility through major international media outlets, including CNN and Access Hollywood, further cementing its status as one of the standout innovators of the 2026 awards season.

Expanding Beyond Cocoa
Although the company’s cocoa breakthrough has attracted widespread attention, GALY’s ambitions extend far beyond chocolate. Its broader biocrafting platform is designed to support the production of multiple commodities, beginning with cocoa and cotton, with additional applications planned for the future.

The GALY Platform
Rather than cultivating crops in agricultural fields, GALY produces materials inside tanks, allowing manufacturing to continue without dependence on climate conditions or land availability. The method is intended to deliver stable, scalable production while improving supply chain reliability, consistency, and transparency across industries such as cocoa and cotton.

Moving Toward Commercial Production
Following this recognition, GALY is preparing for the next stage of its expansion. The company aims to open its first commercial-scale production facility this year, transitioning from pilot-stage innovation to full industrial manufacturing. Its chocolate products are being developed in partnership with leading Swiss collaborators, combining advanced food technology with renowned chocolate-making expertise.

Leadership Perspectives
“This recognition goes beyond a single product — it demonstrates that we can fundamentally transform the way essential and beloved products are made around the world,” said Luciano Bueno.

“The most impactful innovations are those capable of reshaping entire industries, and GALY’s platform carries that level of transformative potential,” said Carmichael Roberts, an Edison Achievement Award honoree.