Millennials Driving Decrease in Dairy Demand

The United Kingdom dairy industry is in crisis, and Chief Executive of United Dairy Farmers David Dobbin says millennials are the reason why. According to a recent study, the number of vegans in Britain has increased by 360 percent in the last decade—a statistic driven by those in the 15 to 34 age bracket. “It’s a demographic time bomb,” Dobbin said at a recent conference in Belfast. “If we don’t address the problem now, then we are facing a fall-off in demand for dairy.” Dobbin plans to launch a campaign to promote the health benefits of consuming dairy three times a day, despite scientific research that has debunked numerous myths regarding the benefits of dairy consumption. Conversely, plant-based dairy alternatives are experiencing record growth. The dairy-free market is expected to grow to $35 billion by 2024, and large dairy companies have moved into the plant-based industry to stay competitive, as evidenced by Danone’s recent acquisition of WhiteWave Foods, the umbrella company to vegan businesses So Delicious, Vega, and Silk.