Coca-Cola has made its first foray into the US dairy market after taking a stake in the maker of the Core Power protein milk.
Coca-Cola and dairy farmer cooperative Select Milk Producers will own an equal stake in the company, which will be called Fair Oaks Farm Brands LLC. Coca-Cola began distributing the high-protein muscle recovery drink earlier this year.
The firm will sit under Coca-Cola’s Venturing and Emerging Brands unit and depending on performance, could see further investment from the US drinks giant.
Coca-Cola said it will establish "an innovative portfolio of brands and products that feature the value-added nutrition of dairy."
Core Power will go head-to-head with Muscle Milk which is distributed by PepsiCo. Dairy has been focus for attempts by soft drink makers to expand their dairy portfolios.
In July, PepsiCo began selling yoghurt through a joint venture with the Theo Muller Group and owns Russian dairy Wimm-Bill-Dann. The firm also has a joint venture with Saudi Arabian dairy Almarai.
