IDM ¦ Ingredients
VEG WORLD
DAIRY ALTERNATIVES MARKET – 4CHOICE:
THE PLANT-BASED ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION
The market of dairy alternative
products is now confirmed as
a real trend movement that is
increasing yearly, involving not
just non-dairy consumers who
are following this kind of trend, but also
many other consumers defined as “flexitarians”,
who choose to include plant-based
products in their normal weekly diets.
This great success story is attributed to
the real and perceived benefits…. Plantbased
meals offer many nutritional benefits
such as reducing cholesterol levels, improving
cardiovascular health, and assisting with
the control of diabetes. These choices are
also closely related to the growing awareness
of the negative health implications linked to
the consumption of artificial ingredients.
Therefore, consumers are becoming more
attracted to different and alternative food
products with flavours, ingredients, textures,
and product-based origins driving them to the
selection, and in this category, plant-based
products offer many different alternatives for
experiencing these different characteristics.
In terms of numbers, the market of
dairy alternatives is expected to grow from
USD 17.3 Billion in 2018 to USD 29.6 Billion
by 2023, with a yearly increase (CAGR)
of 11.4% (Source Markets and Markets)
The Global Non-Dairy Yogurt
Market
In the dairy alternative yogurt market, a similar
trend is emerging, involving the expectations
of flexitarians as the new customer
leaders, and they are driving this category’s
product consumption. The non-dairy yogurt
market accounts for 6% of the entire industry
of dairy alternative products.
According to Innova Market Insights, Europe,
with 66% of the market share, is the
26 · April 2020 ¦ international-dairy.com
leading region for spoonable non-dairy yogurt
launches during 2019. Spoonable non-dairy
yogurt accounts for a 2% share of the total
dairy category. The fastest-growing claims related
to these products are GMO-free, indulgent,
premium, and traditional. Exotic flavours
like passion fruit, mango, key lime, pea, mocha
coffee, and pina colada, are all contributing
to the growing consumer consumption.
Currently, the most used base ingredients
are almonds, soybeans, and coconuts. Government
agencies in several countries are encouraging
the adoption of plant-based diets
as they are rich in fibre, antioxidants, vitamins
A, C, and E, and many other beneficial plantbased
compounds.
Soy used to be the most popular alternative
ingredient, with 80% of the global dairy-free
yogurt launches in 2011, but product developers
and customer demand have since changed
this pattern. Ingredients such as coconut and almond
milk are now increasing in demand faster
than soy milk, and many other ingredients are
following close behind.
Indeed the “next generation” now includes
products made from other legumes,
nuts, seeds, and grain milk. Also prominent are
the launch of new products made from bases
such as oats, flax, peas, and cashews too.
Considering the highlights above, the
global non-dairy yogurt market is expected to
reach USD 1.53 Billion by 2023, at a CAGR of
17% during the forecast period 2018-2023
(Source: Technavio).
Reasons behind Plant-Based
Milk Alternatives
Different preferences influence customer demand,
as well as perceived health benefits and
ethical reasons.
Many people worldwide suffer from
lactose intolerance, diabetes, cardiovascular
issues, and cholesterol. Nowadays, they
have the opportunity to experience tasty
products that are healthy, low in fat, and
that contain much more nutritional value
that is beneficial to our health than before.
The Flexitarian – the new kid on the
block… This new group represents many consumers
of the population worldwide, and potentially
every one of us could be considered
a flexitarian since we have an innate curiosity
to discover and try something new. So these
product developers devote a lot of time and
resources into including as much creativity in
these plant-based products as possible considering
many different mixtures of ingredients
and packages useful to satisfy every kind of
palate for every kind of daily situation.
The main reasons related to dairy alternative
products consumption are listed below:
• Nutrition: plant-based products are low
in fat, rich in protein, vitamins, and other
nutritional compounds.
• Taste and texture – many different alternatives
in terms of taste, texture, package,
and becoming one of the most creative
food industry branches.
• Environmental impact – low environmental
impact during the process of manufacture,
and the use of natural resources.
In the end, the real winner is the customer and
their innate disposition to try new products