By Drew Campbell, CISSN — President & Co-Founder, NiHTEK®
A New Vision for Global Nutrition
The future of nutrition won’t be built by companies repeating what already exists. It will be defined by those willing to challenge the industry, rethink everything, and reimagine how the world experiences performance, health, and functional foods.
NiHTEK® was created for that purpose.
Not to follow the industry – but to redefine it.
We’re not a traditional ingredient supplier.
We’re an Innovative Health Technology Company™, engineering next-generation Functional Branded Ingredients that unlock new possibilities across protein, beverages, carbohydrates, and functional snacking.
But to understand what makes NiHTEK® different, you have to understand the story behind it.
This company didn’t come to life in a fancy office. It took shape through long hours, plenty of trial and error, and a relentless urge to do things differently.
My Story - From Struggle to Innovation
These days, when folks talk about NiHTEK®, they see a brand with real momentum. They notice the advanced ingredients, the solid science, and partnerships reaching far beyond borders.
But honestly, most people have no idea where it all began.
I didn’t come from wealth.
I didn’t inherit connections.
I didn’t get a lucky break that sent me to the top.
Nothing about my early journey was guaranteed.
My path was built on:
- nearly 30 years in performance nutrition
- 20+ years pioneering the category in China
- repeated failures and reinventions
- an obsession with science and innovation
- a belief that nutrition could be far better than it was
The obstacles, the uncertainty, the small wins, the major setbacks – all of it shaped the vision for NiHTEK®.
The journey wasn’t easy.
But it built everything that NiHTEK® stands for.
Becoming an OG in Sports Nutrition - Inside China
Two decades ago, I made a move very few people understood.
I entered mainland China to help build the sports nutrition industry before the industry even existed.
Before protein was understood.
Before gyms were everywhere.
Before any foreigner had ever succeeded in this space.
Not because I was brilliant.
But because I was naïve enough – and hungry enough – to try something no one else dared to attempt.
Over time, I became:
- one of the true OGs of sports nutrition in China
- the only foreignerto ever run a direct sports nutrition business inside China’s mainland ecosystem
- a pioneer who helped shape the category years before it exploded globally
China taught me lessons no textbook or MBA could teach:
- resilience
- speed
- cultural intelligence
- leadership under pressure
- how to navigate uncertainty
- how to survive in a fiercely competitive market
Those years were financially, mentally, and physically demanding.
But they built the instincts and strategic depth that define NiHTEK® today.
Struggle wasn’t a barrier.
It became the blueprint.
The Scientific Foundation - ISSN + GPNi®
My commitment to innovation has always been rooted in real science.
Working with the ISSN (International Society of Sports Nutrition) grounded me in evidence-based nutrition. That experience later inspired the creation of GPNi®, the first and only ISSN-approved education platform for China and Asia Pacific.
Through ISSN and GPNi®, we:
- certified thousands of coaches and professionals
- elevated sports nutrition education across Asia
- strengthened the scientific credibility of the entire category
This evidence-based foundation is now part of the NiHTEK® DNA.
At NiHTEK®, everything begins with science – not trends, hype, or marketing gimmicks.
Why NiHTEK® Needed to Exist
After nearly 30 years in the global nutrition space, one truth became impossible to ignore:
The industry was stuck.
Most companies were:
- relabeling existing ingredients
- competing in outdated categories
- chasing trends instead of science
- prioritizing marketing over innovation
- offering “new packaging” instead of new technology
Consumers deserved better.
Brands deserved better.
The industry deserved better.
So I founded NiHTEK® – not to compete with the past, but to build the future.
What Makes NiHTEK® Different
NiHTEK® is an Innovative Health Technology Company™, meaning we don’t just sell ingredients – we engineer Functional Branded Ingredients backed by:
- scientific validation
- precision engineering
- sensory innovation
- nature-based processes
- global manufacturing excellence
Each technology platform is a complete nutrition system, not a commodity.
We’re not here to copy categories.
We create new categories.
And we’re already reshaping multiple sectors across sports nutrition, beverages, functional foods, energy systems, and wellness.
Our Innovations
NiHPRO® – The 3rd Category of Protein
Not dairy.
Not plant.
A completely new category.
NiHPRO® is engineered through hydrolysis, Molecular Protein Infusion™, and advanced purification.
Key highlights:
- DIAAS 116
- FODMAP Friendly Certified
- 100% dairy-free
- Non-allergen
- Premium sensory experience
- performance comparable to whey
NiHPRO® is Protein For EveryBODY™.
NiHPRO®Bev – The Future of Clear Functional Beverages
Built for modern RTD and hydration innovation, with:
- breakthrough clarity
- ultra-clean taste
- high solubility
- exceptional stability
Perfect for RTDs, shots, hydration blends, and functional beverages.
NiHPRO®Puffs – Redefining Protein Snacks
High-protein puffs engineered for:
- crisp texture
- clean flavor
- formulation flexibility
Ideal for bars, cereals, snacks, and functional food systems.
KARBFiX® – The New Standard of Clean Performance Energy
A next-generation Functional Branded Carbohydrate Ingredient providing:
- ultra-clean energy
- rapid gastric comfort
- zero bloat
- ultra-clear mixing
- non-allergen formulation
- hydration and endurance support
- compatibility with modern physiology
Cleaner and more flexible than Japanese-grade branded dextrin – while remaining non-GMO and non-allergen.
Our Philosophy – Born from Nature. Perfected by Science. Delivered by Technology
NiHTEK® stands at the intersection of:
- Nature– the intelligence behind human health
- Science– the validation behind every function
- Technology– the precision that elevates performance
This is what allows us to build disruptive nutrition systems unlike anything else on the market.
Why This Matters for Global Brands
Modern consumers demand more:
- cleaner labels
- allergen-free options
- digestive comfort
- superior taste
- functional performance
- transparency
- true innovation
NiHTEK® helps brands meet – and exceed – those expectations.
We power the inside of next-generation products, including:
- sports nutrition
- active lifestyle
- hydration
- RTDs & shots
- functional snacks
- wellness formulations
We’re the innovation engine behind the products consumers love.
A Message to Innovators & Future Partners
If my journey has taught me anything, it’s this:
Hardship doesn’t break innovators.
It builds them.
You can’t buy resilience.
You can’t fake intuition.
You can’t shortcut experience.
And you can’t innovate without scars.
Every setback teaches you something.
Every mistake strengthens your vision.
Every difficult moment shapes the breakthroughs ahead.
NiHTEK® is built on that kind of hard-earned wisdom.
And we’re only getting started.
The Future We Are Building
Our mission is clear:
To redefine global sports nutrition, functional foods, and wellness through Innovative Health Technology™.
Not by following old categories – but by creating entirely new ones.
We are building:
- the future of protein
- the future of hydration
- the future of energy
- the future of functional snacking
- the future of clean, science-based wellness
This isn’t evolution.
This is reinvention.
Closing Words - From Me to You
NiHTEK® is more than a company.
It is the result of nearly three decades of lived experience –
struggle, science, innovation, and the willingness to build what didn’t exist yet.
My vision is simple:
To create innovations that elevate human health and performance across the world – with integrity, science, precision, and purpose.
Innovation isn’t born from comfort.
It’s born from the courage to go beyond it.
Thank you for being part of the NiHTEK® journey.
The future of nutrition begins here.
– Drew Campbell, CISSN
President & Co-Founder, NiHTEK®
