Despite the increasing demand for muscle-building nutrition, the current Taiwanese market offers few health and nutrition products that truly deliver both effortless convenience and high efficiency. As a result, consumers face challenges in seamlessly incorporating high-quality muscle-supporting nutrients into their daily meals.
Standard Foods Group's latest product innovation leverages the revolutionary amino acid solution "Amino L40" to meet these needs—making muscle gain support readily accessible to all age segments and lifestyle groups. By integrating "Amino L40" into various flagship product lines, including Quaker and Fresh Delight, Standard Foods ensures that everyday nutrition can be enhanced quickly and easily, helping drive new growth and meet the needs of a modern, health-conscious society.Japanese patented revolutionary amino acid ingredient "Amino L40" into multiple flagship products. This strategic move aims to elevate the muscle gain* nutritional supplementation, previously confined to specific demographics, into a daily health habit accessible to all consumers in Taiwan. "Amino L40" contains a complete set of nine essential amino acids in a scientifically optimized 4:6 golden ratio, crucial for regulating physiological functions.
Targeting three key consumer demographics, SFG seeks to usher in a new era where high-quality protein supplementation becomes an integral part of everyday nutrition:
- Sports Enthusiasts: With an expanding market valued above NT$100 billion, driven by the rising fitness culture, the latest 2023 sports consumption expenditure survey documents significant growth in Taiwan’s sports-related spending. SFG plans to incorporate "Amino L40" into popular products such as plant-based milks and dairy-based nutritionals to meet the daily muscle gain* needs of this dynamic group.
- Middle-Aged Adults (The Sandwich Generation): Facing challenges such as declining mobility and increased preventive health awareness amid an aging society, this demographic requires tailored nutritional support. SFG’s products enriched with "Amino L40," alongside protein, glucosamine, and calcium, are specifically formulated to efficiently trigger muscle synthesis and optimize metabolism, providing precise and effective nutritional solutions to maintain muscle mass and physical function.
- Elderly Consumers: The senior market, a key driver of Taiwan’s NT$3.6 trillion longevity economy projected in 2025, demands comprehensive nutritional care for healthy aging. SFG’s amino acid-enhanced products for seniors leverage the rapid absorption advantage of "Amino L40" small-molecule amino acids combined with high calcium and vitamin formulations to meet diverse health needs and support comfortable, active aging.
This initiative also highlights that "Amino L40" is derived from 100% plant-based fermentation, free of animal-derived components, thereby catering to vegetarian consumers. Its small-molecule amino acid form enables rapid absorption within 30 minutes, significantly faster than conventional protein digestion, reducing gastrointestinal burden and reinforcing its market potential.
Drawing on Japan's Super-Aging Market Demand, Amino Acids Hold Great Development Potential, Hoping to Spark a High-Quality Protein Easy-Supplementation Trend
Japan entered the super-aging era in 2008 and now leads the world in the development of muscle gain* nutrition and functional foods. Japanese-made amino acid supplements have become a model for international innovation, with the Ajinomoto Group recognized as the world’s largest leader in amino acid science. According to market research by DataM Intelligence, the global amino acid market reached US$26.18 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$52.02 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 8.96% from 2024 to 2031. Ajinomoto’s proven research capabilities and clinical evidence have established leadership across sports, daily health, and medical nutrition.
"Amino L40"—now launched in Taiwan—combines 40% leucine with 60% of the remaining eight essential amino acids in a scientifically validated 4:6 golden ratio, recognized for optimal muscle synthesis efficiency. This ingredient is also certified in Japan as a Food with Function Claims and has been widely incorporated into products ranging from sports beverages and supplements to snacks, embedded deeply in everyday Japanese consumer life.
Amino acids represent the smallest units of protein, and while conventional protein requires three to four hours for digestion and absorption, amino acids can be absorbed within just 30 minutes, lessening digestive burden and increasing market appeal. Furthermore, "Amino L40" is fermented from 100% plant sources, making it suitable for vegetarian consumers. SFG’s strategic partnership with Ajinomoto leverages Japanese expertise and SFG’s nutrition science portfolio to expand convenient, effective functional foods in Taiwan, fully capitalizing on the NT$100 billion market potential and reinforcing SFG’s status as a premium protein specialist.
*Protein is a key source for muscle synthesis and assists in healthy muscle growth.
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About Standard Foods Group (SFG)
Standard Foods Group is a leading nutrition and health-related consumer goods company with a strong presence across Asia. Founded in 1986, the company has earned more than 40 health food certifications — the highest number among food manufacturers in Taiwan — underscoring its unwavering commitment to product safety, innovation, and trust. With a diverse portfolio spanning medical foods, functional foods, nutritional products, dairy and beverages, SFG is dedicated to advancing health through science, innovation, and sustainability — bringing trusted nutrition to millions of families every day.
Visit: https://www.sfworldwide.com/
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