The plant-based milk market has taken off lately as customers are each seeking to devour more healthy dairy options and scale back their sugar consumption. In 2023, market analysis agency Knowledge Bridge forecasted the North American plant-based milk market might be value greater than $10.8 billion by 2030, with the unsweetened milk phase accounting for 74 p.c market share (roughly $7.4 billion).
Almond Breeze
This shift is underpinned by findings from a 2022 international examine performed by Kerry, which revealed that the first motivation for decreasing sugar will not be weight reduction, however fairly long-term well being. In response to the examine, seven in 10 respondents are chopping down on sugar to guide more healthy lives, and nearly six in 10 are doing so to forestall future medical points.
Oatly will get ‘tremendous fundamental’ with unsweetened oat milk
Whereas Oatly’s vegan cream cheese and ice cream bars may be extra thrilling to some, the corporate is taking a pared-down strategy to its latest product launch—the primary innovation in 5 years that Oatly has made to its North American beverage portfolio.
Oatly
To begin 2024, Oatly launched Unsweetened Oatmilk and Tremendous Primary Oatmilk, each made with minimal substances. Oatly’s new merchandise additionally cater to these searching for low or no-sugar choices.
“As oat milk continues to maneuver into the mainstream, now greater than ever we see individuals unwilling to sacrifice nice style for dietary preferences—they’re searching for each,” Leah Hoxie, SVP of Innovation at Oatly North America, mentioned in a press release.
“Our US R&D staff spent almost a 12 months perfecting each of those oatmilks to strike this steadiness,” Hoxie mentioned.
The brand new choices bulk up the corporate’s oat milk line, which incorporates full-fat variations, chocolate flavors, and a barista version that simply added coffeehouse chain Espresso Bean & Tea Leaf to its giant roster of foodservice companions.
All of those vegan milks have been created to cater to all cases the place customers are searching for an alternative choice to dairy.
“At Oatly, we imagine that merchandise ought to serve each individuals and the planet effectively. With this in thoughts, altering the meals system requires a mass shift away from dairy,” Mike Messersmith, President, Oatly North America, mentioned in a press release.
Oatly
“That’s why our new oat milks have been crafted to cater to completely different shopper preferences, like much less energy, no sugar, or fewer substances. In the end, the most important influence we are able to have as a enterprise is to transform cow’s milk drinkers into oat milk patrons,” Messersmith mentioned. “The introduction of Unsweetened and Tremendous Primary proceed to assist us try this.”
Reinvigorating unsweetened vegan milk
Oatly will not be the one firm taking a second take a look at the unsweetened vegan milk class—the place main gamers, similar to Danone-owned Silk, Blue Diamond Grower’s Almond Breeze, and others, have supplied choices for years.
Califia Farms additionally just lately expanded its vary with USDA-certified Natural Oatmilk and Almondmilk, unsweetened milk particularly designed to satisfy shopper demand for easier, extra pure merchandise.
Califia Farms
“I can’t consider a greater means for Califia to kick off the brand new 12 months than with the launch of our deliciously easy Natural Oatmilk and Almondmilk,” Suzanne Ginestro, Chief Advertising Officer at Califia Farms, mentioned in a press release. “With the addition of those two objects, we’re making plant-based much more accessible to customers searching for yummy, shorter label choices with out oils or gums.”
Launched in January of final 12 months, the unsweetened milk—which Califia launched similtaneously its chocolate oat milk—was the bottom for Bella Hadid’s ‘Kinsicle’ Smoothie collab with Erewhon Market. Califia additionally made its current unsweetened almond milk accessible in a bigger, family-friendly 72-ounce dimension.
“We’re so proud to proceed driving the dairy-free class ahead with innovation that sparks pleasure within the kitchen and offers individuals the flexibility and style they crave,” Ginestro mentioned.
Final summer season, one other vegan milk chief, Ripple Meals, launched Ripple Children Unsweetened Authentic Milk, responding to parental demand for sugar-free plant-based milk options for youngsters.
“Dad and mom constantly say Ripple Children has been a game-changer for his or her household, as a result of want for an alternative choice to dairy that gives nice style and optimum diet for youngsters,” Laura Flanagan, CEO of Ripple Meals, mentioned in a press release.
Ripple
Manufacturers are growing vegan milk particularly for customers seeking to lower their sugar consumption. Nevertheless, all of those manufacturers—which provide flavored and full-fat vegan milk choices—are additionally taking a 360 strategy to assist customers make sustainable milk decisions wherever they may attain for the creamy beverage.
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Anna Starostinetskaya is the Senior Information Editor at VegNews and is all the time maintaining a tally of all issues vegan in her dwelling metropolis of San Francisco, CA and in every single place else.
