HiPRO functional beverage will be on sale this summer.
Production start is scheduled for June, and pilot samples were presented at Deep Food Tech 2026, an international conference held in Moscow.
Launching under the HiPRO brand, the new product comes in a 250 ml package. The HiPRO range includes three flavors: chocolate-caramel, blackberry-pistachio, pear-honey.
The drink is made with EFKO's in-house soy protein and is additionally enriched with dietary fiber, calcium, vitamins D3 and B12, as well as green tea extract, which has a powerful antioxidant effect.
Each HiPRO can contains 10 g of protein. The shake is low in calories, ranging from 25 to 45 kcal per 100 g, and has a low carbohydrate content: in the chocolate-caramel flavor, less than 1 g per 100 g. Yet it helps keep you feeling full for a long time.
EFKO Brand Division Director
Evgeny Shulepov
«We expect that HiPRO will become a reliable help for everyone who keeps a healthy lifestyle and monitors protein in their diet. According to WHO recommendations, an adult should receive about 0.8-1.2 g of protein per 1 kg of body weight daily. For athletes and older adults, this intake level is even higher. HiPRO will effortlessly replenish it without compromising on taste. The convenient packaging doesn't need special temperature storage and lets you take the drink anywhere: to a workout, on the road, or to work. And, of course, HiPRO will be the first publicly available product with sweet-tasting protein. The price on the shelf will be fairly reasonable and won't go over 180 rubles per package».
«Japanese startup that creates functional carbonated beverages for 'hunger management' inspired our team of technologists in developing HiPRO." We aimed to develop a domestic counterpart, enhancing its nutritional value and usefulness," Elena Maksakova, an engineer-technologist for new product development at EFKO, says. "The primary challenge was discovering a blend of products that delivers a vibrant yet balanced flavor. We meticulously refined the process and experimented with various recipes to ensure each ingredient was perfectly placed. And now we are ready to release a product that meets high requirements both in taste and composition.»
FOR REFERENCE
Biosynthesized sweet protein brazzein is an innovative food ingredient, a healthy sugar alternative, created through biotechnology and completely replicating the protein molecules found in exotic African fruits, with a sweetness level 800-3000 times greater than sugar. Besides being a protein, brazzein is not triggering an insulin response in the blood, making it a potential solution for sweetness issues in diabetics.
The Hi! brand (derived from 'Healthy Innovations') is a trademark of EFKO's plant-based products, including Hi! plant-based meat and milk. It is produced since 2020.
