How dynamic is the market is for plant-based yoghurts?
The growth potential for this category is big.
It’s already a big sector globally; in 2020 the plant-based yoghurt market was worth USD 1.94 billion.
The picture is a positive one in many countries with plant-based yoghurts accounting for 50% of the total yoghurt market’s revenue share in Europe in 2019, and a global growth rate of 17.7% predicted from 2021 to 2026. If we look specifically at Asia, plant-based yoghurts are expected to grow by 20.2% between 2020 and 2027.
It’s clearly an important sector and essential therefore that manufacturers find ways to stand out from the crowd in this increasingly competitive market.
The other thing to note is that this category is very diverse.
In Palsgaard’s consumer survey about plant-based dairy alternatives, respondents highlighted the plant bases they would be happy to buy in yoghurt. For this question, yoghurts with a nut base topped the list at 75.8%. After this, 59.8% said they would buy a coconut-based yoghurt and 49.5% would be happy with oat-based yoghurt. For soy it was 36.9% and rice (35.8%), and pea protein (21.4%).
There are also many reasons why people are shifting to plant-based diets.
Lactose intolerance is a condition affecting more and more people, while millennials are also driving consumption of plant-based products, particularly those with a clean label.
Plant-based products are also considered to be more environmentally friendly and healthier. Yoghurt is in a good position here because plant-based options contain the same live prebiotics and cultures as dairy versions, which means they offer the same digestive benefits.
Made from starch and vegetable fibre, Palsgaard® AcidMilk 310 is developed for use in plant-based and dairy yoghurt. It provides the following advantages:
- Significantly reduces syneresis
- Imparts a creamy consistency and a good mouthfeel
- Provides smoothness and glossiness
- Provides stability during distribution and storage
- One solution for different types of plant-based yoghurts
- It can be used to create clean label options