Plant-Based Milk Poses New Threat to Dairy Industry

On Monday, research firm Packaged Facts’ David Sprinkle released a white paper highlighting the current battle between plant-based milk and dairy products in the refrigerated section of supermarkets. Sprinkle explained how consumers are now shopping the perimeter of the supermarket and steering clear of the center aisles, opting for fresh instead of processed foods. “The new generation of refrigerated plants milks—with almond milk and novel blends leading the dairy-free charge,” Sprinkle writes, “represent far more dangerous competition to dairy milk than the soy milks of yore, safely tucked away in the center store, in perfunctory flavors and in shelf-stable aseptic packaging that does not signal either fresh or milk-like to US consumers.” Sprinkle’s analysis is backed by consumer purchasing trends. While sales in the dairy sector have seen a steady decline in recent years, market analysts predict that the plant-based milk industry will continue to climb to $35 billion by 2024.