As the plant-based milk category continues to expand, Danone North America is creating a new segment of vegan milk to appeal to reluctant dairy loves. The new "dairy-like" segment is in response to a new study that suggests "dairy drinkers don’t like that plant-based milk taste like plants."
The brand leveraged expertise in plant-based beverages (through Silk and So Delicious Dairy Free) to create a new type of plant-based milk that mimics the sensory experience (including "mouthfeel") of traditional dairy. This was accomplished by blending high-quality plant-based ingredients. The result is a "dairy-like" beverage that doesn't taste like a specific ingredient (like soy, oat, or almond).
Launching in January 2022, new Silk nextmilk™ and So Delicious Wondermilk™ by Danone are designed to help close the gap between traditional dairy drinkers and plant-based beverage consumers.
Dairy-Like Plant-Based Milk
Danone Debuts Vegan “Dairy-Like” Segment for Reluctant Dairy Fans
Trend Themes
1. Dairy-like Plant-based Milk - The trend of creating plant-based milk that mimics the sensory experience of traditional dairy, while leveraging expertise in plant-based beverages.
2. Appealing to Reluctant Dairy Lovers - The trend of creating a new segment of vegan milk that appeals to dairy drinkers who are hesitant to try plant-based options.
3. Closing the Gap Between Traditional Dairy Drinkers and Plant-based Beverage Consumers - The trend of launching new plant-based milk products that aim to attract traditional dairy drinkers to the plant-based milk category.
Industry Implications
1. Plant-based Beverages - An opportunity for companies to expand their plant-based milk offerings by leveraging expertise in the field and creating dairy-like options.
2. Dairy Industry - An opportunity for dairy companies to create hybrid products that merge traditional dairy milk with plant-based ingredients to appeal to a wider range of consumers.
3. Retail - An opportunity for retailers to expand their plant-based milk selections and cater to a wider range of consumers by offering dairy-like options alongside traditional dairy and other plant-based options.