Rich Products Corporation has launched Rich's Beverage Solutions Protein Syrup, a shelf-stable, collagen-peptide-based syrup that delivers 15 grams of protein per one-fluid-ounce pump — no refrigeration, pre-mixing, or dedicated blending equipment required.
The introduction is aimed squarely at foodservice operators looking to capitalize on the functional-beverage trend without overhauling their back-of-house setup. Because the syrup requires no cold storage, operators can slot it alongside existing ambient beverage syrups, sidestepping the need to carve out refrigerator or freezer space. That matters in high-volume beverage bars and quick-service lines where prep-and-storage real estate is already at a premium.
Format and Pack Size
Each 32.9-ounce bottle ships with a dedicated pump and yields 32 servings at a consistent one-ounce dose. Cases contain four bottles. Shelf life is 365 days unopened; once opened, the product holds 30 days at room temperature. The concentrated formula blends into hot, iced, blended, and frozen beverages — coffee, lattes, smoothies, refreshers, lemonades — without off-flavors, chalkiness, or gritty texture, according to the company. The collagen-peptide base is supplemented with amino acids.
Operator Implications
The pump-and-serve format is the real operational story here. Protein add-ins have historically created friction in beverage programs: powder scoops require separate measuring, some formats demand pre-mixing, and many protein ingredients underperform in hot or frozen applications. Rich's positions this syrup as a single SKU that covers the full temperature spectrum without modification to existing drink-station workflows or equipment.
For operators running commissary or ghost-kitchen beverage programs — environments where cold chain and storage capacity is often limited — the ambient footprint is a meaningful advantage. Larger foodservice accounts could also use the product to introduce protein as a line-extension upsell, increasing average ticket size without adding staff training complexity.
The market tailwind is measurable. Datassential's 2026 Big Picture report found that 64% of consumers are interested in protein-fortified foods and beverages. A separate Datassential Non-Alcoholic Beverage Keynote from December 2025 showed 80% of Gen Z and Millennial consumers are interested in adding at least one functional ingredient to a beverage — a signal that demand is durable, not a passing trend.
Alyssa Barrett, senior customer marketing manager at Rich Products, framed the launch as part of a longer beverage platform strategy: "Rich's Protein Syrup gives restaurant operators a simple way to add customizable protein enhancements to beverages already on the menu, helping increase ticket sizes, create new snacking occasions and drive incremental revenue without adding significant operational complexity."
For equipment specifiers, the product's ambient-storage requirement is a point to note when planning beverage stations: no dedicated refrigerated drop-in or under-counter cooler is needed to support the SKU, which can simplify station layouts. Operators building out new beverage programs should factor protein-syrup volume into pump-rail and counter-space planning alongside their existing syrup and sauce lines.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
