Top 10 Companies in the Powder Based Instant Thickening Agent Industry (2026): Market Leaders Driving Texture Innovation

In Business Insights
January 31, 2026


The Global Powder Based Instant Thickening Agent Market was valued at USD 574 Million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 841 Million by 2034, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 3.7% during the forecast period (2024–2034). This growth is being driven by increasing demand for convenience foods, the rising popularity of functional beverages, and the expanding applications of instant thickeners in pharmaceutical and personal care formulations.

As the global market for texture modification evolves, the focus intensifies on the key manufacturers who are pioneering advanced formulations and expanding the functional capabilities of these versatile powders. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Powder Based Instant Thickening Agent Industry—a diverse group of nutrition specialists, healthcare providers, and ingredient innovators shaping the future of product formulation.


🔟 1. Nestlé Nutrition

Headquarters: Vevey, Switzerland
Key Offering: Resource® ThickenUp®, specialized dysphagia management products

Nestlé Health Science, through its Nestlé Nutrition division, is a global leader in medical nutrition, including powdered thickeners. Their flagship product, Resource® ThickenUp®, is a starch-based instant food and beverage thickener widely used in clinical settings for patients with swallowing difficulties (dysphagia).

Key Innovations:

  • Clinically proven formulations for dysphagia management

  • Gluten-free and clear-mix options for enhanced patient compliance

  • Extensive R&D investment in texture-modified diets

Download FREE Sample Report: Powder Based Instant Thickening Agent Market – View in Detailed Research Report


9️⃣ 2. Kent Precision Foods Group, Inc.

Headquarters: Muscatine, Iowa, USA
Key Offering: Thick-It® brand instant food and beverage thickeners

Kent Precision Foods is renowned for its Thick-It® brand, one of the most recognized names in instant thickeners globally. The company specializes in products for the dysphagia market, offering both original and clear consistency formulations that work instantly in hot or cold liquids.

Key Innovations:

  • Pioneering consumer brand in instant thickening

  • Product lines tailored for different dietary needs and viscosity levels


8️⃣ 3. Hormel Health Labs

Headquarters: Austin, Minnesota, USA
Key Offering: Thick & Easy® instant food and beverage thickeners

Hormel Health Labs provides a comprehensive range of nutritional products for healthcare, with its Thick & Easy® line being a major player in the instant thickening agent segment. The products are designed for ease of use in both institutional and home care settings.

Key Innovations:

  • Pre-measured, single-serve packets for accuracy and convenience

  • Integration with broader clinical nutrition offerings


7️⃣ 4. SimplyThick, LLC

Headquarters: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Key Offering: SimplyThick® Gel-based and powder thickeners

SimplyThick is recognized for its innovative approach to thickening, utilizing xanthan gum-based technology. While known for its gel product, the company’s powder formulations offer precision thickening without altering taste, making them ideal for a wide range of beverages.

Key Innovations:

  • Xanthan gum-based technology for superior stability

  • Focus on taste-neutral formulations


6️⃣ 5. CP Kelco

Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Key Offering: Specialty hydrocolloids including xanthan gum, pectin

As a leading producer of hydrocolloids, CP Kelco supplies high-quality xanthan gum and other biopolymers that serve as the raw materials for many instant thickening agents. Their ingredients are critical for food, beverage, and industrial applications requiring precise viscosity control.

Key Innovations:

  • High-purity xanthan gum production

  • Sustainable sourcing and manufacturing processes


5️⃣ 6. Ingredion Incorporated

Headquarters: Westchester, Illinois, USA
Key Offering: Modified food starches, specialty ingredients

Ingredion is a global ingredient solutions provider offering a wide array of starches, including instant or pre-gelatinized starches that function as effective powder thickeners. Their expertise is crucial for beverage and food manufacturers seeking texture innovation.

Key Innovations:

  • Clean-label starch modifications

  • Customized texture solutions for diverse applications

Download FREE Sample Report: Powder Based Instant Thickening Agent Market – View in Detailed Research Report


4️⃣ 7. Cargill, Incorporated

Headquarters: Wayzata, Minnesota, USA
Key Offering: Starches, texturizers, hydrocolloids

Cargill’s extensive portfolio includes ingredients that form the basis of powder thickeners. The company provides solutions for the food and beverage industry, focusing on improving texture, stability, and mouthfeel in a variety of products, from juices to nutritional drinks.

Key Innovations:

  • Investment in plant-based and sustainable ingredients

  • R&D focused on functionality and consumer preferences


3️⃣ 8. Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM)

Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Key Offering: Food stabilizers, texturizing solutions, fibers

ADM is a key player in the global food ingredient market, offering a range of products that contribute to thickening and stabilization. Their expertise in ingredient systems supports the development of instant thickening agents for health-focused and mainstream beverages.

Key Innovations:

  • Development of fiber-based thickening systems

  • Comprehensive portfolio for health and wellness applications


2️⃣ 9. Tate & Lyle PLC

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Key Offering: Stabilizers, starches, dietary fibers

Tate & Lyle specializes in ingredient solutions for texturizing, stabilizing, and enhancing the nutritional profile of food and drinks. Their range of starches and soluble fibers are instrumental in creating effective instant thickening powders.

Key Innovations:

  • Leading provider of texture and wellness ingredients

  • Focus on sugar reduction and calorie management solutions


1️⃣ 10. FMC Corporation

Headquarters: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Key Offering: Avicel® microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), hydrocolloids

FMC’s Health and Nutrition segment is a major supplier of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), a versatile ingredient used as a stabilizer and thickener in a wide range of food, beverage, and pharmaceutical applications. Its high purity and functionality make it ideal for instant thickening.

Key Innovations:

  • Leading global producer of microcrystalline cellulose

  • Applications in fat replacement and suspension stability

Get Full Report Here: Powder Based Instant Thickening Agent Market – View in Detailed Research Report


📊 Outlook: The Future of Powder Based Instant Thickening Agents is Functional and Diverse

The powder-based instant thickening agent market is experiencing significant transformation. While traditional dysphagia management remains a core application, the industry is rapidly expanding into functional beverages, sports nutrition, and clean-label food products.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Rising demand for clean-label and natural thickeners like xanthan gum and specialty starches

  • Growth in the health and wellness sector driving demand for protein drinks and functional beverages requiring texture modification

  • Aging global population increasing the prevalence of dysphagia and demand for medical nutrition products

  • Innovation in ingredient technology for improved solubility, stability, and neutral taste profiles

Get Full Report Here: Powder Based Instant Thickening Agent Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not only supplying essential ingredients—they are driving the innovation and functionality that define modern food and beverage textures.