PLANT BASED

MILKING THE ALTERNATIVES

Plant-based milk alternatives represent the gateway into plant-based food for many consumers who are looking to reduce consumption of animal-based products. With USD$18 billion in global retail sales, the category continues to be propelled forward with new innovations and opportunities.

According to Euromonitor International’s Voice of the Consumer: Health and Nutrition Survey (2021), 42 percent of consumers globally said they are restricting overpower the flavour of the coffee.

Meanwhile, British supermarket chain, Waitrose recently released its 2022 Food and Drink report, predicting that potato milk will be the biggest dairy alternative milk trend of 2022. This is exciting news for New Zealand’s thriving potato industry. Potato milk has a much lower carbon footprint than other alternative milks, adding to its consumer appeal.

their consumption of animalbased products, with many consumers citing that they have limited their dairy consumption for digestive health reasons. This is far ahead of ethical reasons, including environmental concerns.

Alternative Ingredients: What’s Trending

While manufacturers keep coming to market with new products made from a variety of plant-based sources (hemp and barley for example), there is no denying the explosive influence oats have had on the plant-based dairy category.

Oats have become a winner for their sustainability, as well as their neutral taste - a crucial aspect in the coffee arena as it doesn’t

SUPER MATCHA SMOOTHIE

Why Restaurants Should have Alt-Milks on their Radar

The plant-based trend’s journey on menus has been extraordinary, with that term growing more than 3000 percent on menus in the past four years. Consumers want the option of alternative dairy products and when it comes to flavour, the most popular alternative dairy in the fast casual segment is almond milk, as it’s an easy swap-in for drinks like smoothies and lattes.

One of the earliest plant-based milks to appear on retail shelves, almond milk has seen a steady rise on restaurant menus for more than a decade, despite a number of other alternatives popping up.

Almond Milk Menu Inspiration

Super Matcha Smoothie made with matcha green tea, blueberries, banana, spinach, chia seeds, agave and almond milk.