Healthy INSIDER Podcast 14: Opportunities Ripe for Dairy Alternatives

Dairy-alternative foods and beverages appeal to a wide range of consumers including those with lactose intolerance, dairy-free consumers (vegans), those who don’t prefer dairy-laden products and those looking to venture out and try new flavors such as almond, soy or cashew milk. Moreover, dairy-alternative foods and beverages are boosting consumers’ eating experiences with fresh, unique flavors, enhanced texture and nutrient-dense applications, making for a future ripe with opportunity. What’s more, dairy-alternative products are popular deliverables for trending nutrients such as protein, fiber, prebiotics, probiotics, vitamins and minerals, and more.

U.S. retail sales for dairy and dairy alternative beverages reached $24 billion in 2014, representing a 4-percent increase from 2013. While sales increased for both segments, the past few years have seen the dairy alternative sector increasing its share of the overall market to now account for 20 percent of the industry.  Sales of plant-based dairy alternatives, especially almond milk, show no signs of slowing and new alternative sources, such as coconut, cashews, hemp and seeds are expected to drive the alternative segment even higher over the next several years.

In this episode, INSIDER Managing Editors Rachel Adams and Judie Bizzozero discuss:

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