The owners of Muscle Milk are drawing interest from beverage rivals eager to bulk up in the popular protein drink category, The Post has learned.
CytoSport, which makes the body-building brand and other sports-nutrition staples, along with private-equity firm TSG Consumer Partners, are hoping to fetch more than $500 million for Muscle Milk.
WhiteWave Foods, whose roster includes Horizon milk and Silk soy drinks, is circling Muscle Milk, according to sources.
Glanbia Nutritionals, which owns Optimum Nutrition, American Bodybuilding and a number of other sports-nutrition brands, is also in the running, alongside Balance Bar maker NBTY, sources said.
PepsiCo has a multiyear pact to distribute Muscle Milk but is barred from creating its own single-serve sports-protein product under the deal, sources said. That has eased bidder concerns about the beverage and snack giant making a similar product to push aside Muscle Milk.
WhiteWave and Glanbia declined to comment. CytoSport and NBTY didn’t return calls.