Just Food rounds up what some of the world’s leading dairy businesses are providing in the growing market of dairy alternatives.

In the same way that large meat companies are increasingly offering meat alternatives, the world’s leading dairy businesses, or food majors with a significant position in dairy, are becoming ever more involved in providing dairy alternatives.

This is not about turning their back on dairy products but an understanding that the market for plant-based milk, yogurt, cheese and ice cream is growing rapidly and too important to ignore.

Two other niches are attracting interest and investment – animal-free dairy and cell-cultured dairy.

Here we look at what major, conventional dairy companies are doing in these areas.

Danone

The French dairy giant made a move into dairy-free by acquiring WhiteWave Foods, the US manufacturer of the Alpro and Silk plant-based dairy-alternative ranges, in 2016 for US$12.5bn.

After announcing a target in 2018 to triple the size of its plant-based business to EUR5bn in sales by 2025, the company has invested in capex and product development.

In February 2019, Danone announced it was opening a new building at its facility in DuBois, Pennsylvania, dedicated to plant-based food products including yogurt.

In December that year, it was announced Danone had taken part in a funding round for US plant-based business Hälsa Foods through its in-house venture-capital fund Danone Manifesto Ventures.

December 2019 also saw Danone tell Just Food it planned to use its well-known brands to push plant-based dairy alternatives

The Activia maker also owns a majority stake in Harmless Harvest, a US firm selling coconut-based drinks and dairy-free yogurt based on coconut.

In June 2022, Danone and plant-based food business Green Monday Group took a minority stake in UK oat-milk company Minor Figures.

In April 2023, Danone made another investment in a non-conventional dairy start-up, buying a stake in animal-free dairy business Imagindairy.

Israel-based Imagindairy, set up in 2020, makes its products through a technique called precision fermentation.

The financial terms of Danone’s investment, made through Danone Manifesto Ventures, were not disclosed.

In November 2023, Danone agreed to collaborate with Else Nutrition, a supplier of plant-based infant-formula products in Canada.

Vancouver-headquartered Else said in a statement that the two companies had signed a letter of intent providing for a “multi-stage collaboration, subject to the finalisation of certain commercial terms”, following Danone having completed extensive due diligence.

Else and Danone entered into a license agreement whereby Else’s products will be included in Danone’s specialised nutrition portfolio and manufactured marketed and commercialised by Danone.

Lactalis

In December 2019, Danone’s French dairy peer Lactalis announced it was taking its Siggi’s yogurt brand into the plant-based market.

Lactalis said at the time the launch came after two years of development and “fills key gaps consumers have desired from similar non-dairy products”.

The new yogurts – based on Siggi’s traditional Icelandic Skyr products – are made from a blend of coconut, macadamia and pea protein.

“Nearly 15 years ago, we started a low-sugar, simple ingredient revolution with our signature Skyr, and now continue to deliver on that commitment in plant-based as well.

Siggi’s was bought by Lactalis in January 2018 for an undisclosed sum.

In August 2022, Lactalis Group unveiled plans to convert a milk production facility in Canada into one manufacturing plant-based dairy products.

It said the plant in Sudbury, Ontario, will cease its current milk operations due to “unprofitability in the fluid milk market” locally.

The company’s local arm, Lactalis Canada’s plant-based offering currently includes products such as Sensational Soy, Lactantia margarine and Siggi’s coconut-based yogurt alternatives.

Arla Foods

The Denmark-based dairy giant followed the likes of Danone and Lactalis into the growing market for alternatives to dairy in March 2020.

Arla announced the launch of a range of chilled, oat-based drinks, to be marketed under a new brand, Jörd, and initially available in Denmark, Sweden and the UK.

At the time, Arla said the beverages contained “up to 50% more oat compared to competing products”, without specifying the products.

The co-op now sells a range of plant-based products under the Jörd brand.

DMK

In the autumn of 2021, Germany’s largest dairy group unveiled a new division focused on plant-based alternatives to dairy.

“Plant-based alternatives have arrived in the mainstream and stand for enjoyment and variety, in taste, especially among the young target groups. With protein demand increasing worldwide and changes in society taking place at the same time, the demand for alternatives will increase even more in the future. As a forward-looking dairy cooperative, we must not close our minds to this trend, in any of our business areas,” CEO Ingo Müller said at the time.

DMK plans to launch vegan chocolate milk and rice-based desserts through German retailers in spring 2022.

Meanwhile, in April 2022, the company will launch a vegan ice cream through a tie-up with German confectioner Katjes Group.

In September 2022, DMK launched its vegan cheese alternative Velander, available in the first instance to industrial customers from Q4 2022.

CEO Müller said: “We want to offer our customers a complete and future-ready product range. By complementing our core range with our vegan cheese alternative, we are now able to offer our customers the option of serving consumers of vegan products as well.”

Chobani

In November 2019, Chobani, the US-based Greek yogurt company, launched oat-based products.

Its Chobani Oat drinks are made with organic oats and are gluten-free while the New York State-based company’s “batch-fermented oat blends” contain “billions of probiotics”.

The new products were Chobani’s first foray outside of the yogurt category.

Chobani Oat Drinks are available in four flavours – Plain, Vanilla, Chocolate and Plain Extra Creamy. An Oat Drink Barista Blend, designed to behave like steamed whole milk in coffee and tea was also to be made available.

Chobani Oat Blend cups are available in Vanilla, Strawberry Vanilla, Blueberry Pomegranate and Peach Mandarin variants.

The firm’s Chobani Oat Blend with Crunch is available in Strawberry Granola Crunch, Blueberry Almond Crumble, and Peach Coconut Crunch, flavours.

General Mills

US food company General Mills has made a couple of moves in plant-based dairy, centring on its Yoplait yogurt brand.

In December 2019, the company took its Oui by Yoplait yogurt product into the US plant-based category.

Its Oui Dairy Free Coconut Dairy Alternative was described as the “first premium plant-based, non-dairy option” in its domestic market.

The product, under its Yoplait brand, is made with a coconut base and paired with flavours such as vanilla, strawberry, mango, and raspberry to “deliver a creamy and indulgent taste experience”.

In July 2021, the company announced plans to launch an almond-based version of its Petits Filous product in the UK.

The same year, General Mills unveiled a test launch of an animal-free cream cheese product. Made using precision fermentation techniques, the cream cheese was marketed under the Bold Cultr brand and sold in selected stores of retail chain Hy-Vee.

In February 2023, it was revealed that General Mills’ innovation unit, G-Works, was now using Israel-based Remilk’s animal-free whey protein instead of sourcing the ingredient from Perfect Day in the US.

It was incorporating Perfect Day’s animal-free whey protein in its Bold Cultr precision fermentation alternative cheese when it launched the brand in 2021.

A spokesperson for G-Works confirmed Remilk as the new supplier but declined to “elaborate on the details of the switch” when contacted by Just Food.

In March 2023, it was revealed General Mills had pulled Bold Cultr from the market.

A statement posted on Bold Cultr’s website read: “Dear fans and customers, with a heavy heart, we want to let you know that we are closing our doors as of 27 February 2023.”

Saputo

The Canada-based dairy group, one of the world’s largest dairy companies, acquired UK dairy-alternative cheese manufacturer Bute Island Foods in May 2021.

At the time, Lino Saputo, the company’s chairman and CEO, said the deal “marks an important milestone that will allow us to accelerate our growth in this area globally, putting innovation at the forefront of our priorities”.

Until then, Saputo’s efforts in the dairy-alternatives sector had come through NPD. In October 2019, Saputo announced that Vitalite, the UK brand that was part of the Dairy Crest business it acquired earlier this year, was to add vegan cheese to its portfolio.

Unilever

The world’s largest ice-cream supplier has made a series of moves to add non-dairy options to its portfolio.

Unilever sells non-dairy versions of its Breyers desserts in markets including in the US and the UK. In March 2019, when Unilever unveiled a dairy-free version of its Breyers ice cream in the UK, it said the product had been developed in response to the “huge number of those now following vegan and dairy-free diets”.

Unilever also markets non-dairy versions of its Magnum ice cream on both sides of the Atlantic. Vegan versions of the Magnum ice creams were first launched in Finland and Sweden where they were sold in two varieties – original and almond.

Unilever also offers a dairy-free version of its Ben & Jerry’s ice cream range – made from almond milk – and a vegan Cornetto.

Speaking to just-food in December 2019, Hanneke Faber, the president of Unilever’s foods and refreshment division, said less than 5% of the company’s ice-cream sales at that point were vegan. She added: “We need to take that to 15% or 20%.”

In November 2022, Unilever said it was investing in “cow-free dairy” as part of efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of its ice-cream.

The Magnum brand owner said it saw the use of precision fermentation as a “significant trend” for the future.

Unilever announced it would be working with start-ups in Europe on the technology and could launch a product based on its research, management told journalists during a trip to a company R&D facility near Bedford in southern England.

Nestlé

The world’s largest food maker has built a presence in plant-based meat alternatives through NPD and M&A but has also sought to ride the wave of interest in plant-based dairy.

Nestlé owns Ecuador-based Terrafertil which makes organic, plant-based food and drinks. In 2018, it launched almond milk with fruit in Mexico under its Nature’s Heart brand.

In June 2022, Nestlé’s SMA Nutrition infant-formula unit launched its plant-based drink Little Steps Plantygrow Plant-based Growing Up Drink, which is nutritionally designed for toddlers from one to three years of age.

It has no added sugars, is a source of Vitamins A, C, B2, B12 & Iron and has been enriched with iodine and Omega 3 & 6. The drink also contains Calcium and Vitamin D.

In December 2022, Nestlé announced it was to trial a line of animal-free dairy drinks in six US San Francisco grocery outlets under the Cowabunga brand.

The range was available in two flavours – milk and chocolate – and contains animal-free protein made by US start-up Perfect Day. The lactose-free duo will be marketed as ‘beverages’ rather than milk drinks, and are fortified with calcium and Vitamin D.

The Cowabunga products were to be trialed at select Safeway stores in the San Francisco Bay area.

Nestlé had announced plans to develop animal-free dairy products three months earlier, partnering with Perfect Day through its newly-established US R+D Accelerator.

Bel Group

Best known for its Laughing Cow and Babybel processed cheese brands, France’s Bel Group launched a plant-forward business strategy in 2019.

The company announced it was “transforming its business model and brands” in a bid to “accelerate”  its “sustainable growth strategy” and would look to create a “broadened portfolio of dairy, fruit and hybrid products” including plant-based items.

In February 2020, the company announced it had invested in Yofix Probiotics, the Israel-based dairy-free yogurt start-up.

A month later, Bel struck a deal to buy an 80% stake in French plant-based cheese maker All In Foods.

By October of that year, Bel unveiled plans to offer a dairy-free alternative for each one of its brands, starting with Boursin.

In February 2021, it was announced Bel had decided to back Big Idea Ventures, an alternative-protein venture fund and accelerator. Two months later, Bel unveiled its first new brand focused on the plant-based market – Nurrish.

The following year, Bel revealed it had bought a stake in Standing Ovation, a Paris-based ingredients start-up. Standing Ovation develops caseins – using fermentation – that are animal-free. Bel said it planned to use the fledgling firm’s ingredients in its dairy-free cheese products.

In 2023, the company announced a partnership with AI-powered start-up Climax Foods to develop plant-based versions of its brands. Bel also acquired an equity stake in the US start-up for an undisclosed fee.

Müller

Another European dairy major to make a foray into dairy alternatives is Müller, the Germany-based giant.

Like Bel, in 2020, Müller invested in Yofix. Benjamin Bugl, the managing director of Müller’s in-house VC arm Müller Ventures, said at the time Yofix “offers a unique range of quality products, both in terms of flavor and texture” in what he described as “the fast-growing dairy alternative space”.

Bugl added: “With no artificial ingredients, its clean-label solution is a powerful differentiator for consumer awareness and acceptance. Combined with Yofix’s strong management team, this makes it an attractive investment opportunity for Müller.”

In 2021, Müller set out plans to launch its first range of vegan products.

Kerry Group

Ireland’s Kerry Group has offered a dairy-free range since 1994.

Its Pure free-from range, based on spreads, is free from dairy, gluten, lactose, artificial flavours and colours, preservatives and additives, GM ingredients and hydrogenated fats. Pure is dairy-free certified.

In 2016, Kerry Group extended the Pure brand into the UK ready meals market with the launch of lunchtime and evening dishes. The business developed four pots aimed at the lunchtime meal and three dishes for evenings.

Valio

At the end of 2017, Finnish dairy cooperative Valio brought out Valio Oddlygood, a non-dairy product range made from Finnish oats.

Valio Oddlygood gurts are a spoonable, yogurt-style snack made from Finnish oats while Valio Oddlygood oat drink is also made from Finnish oats.

Valio’s business manager Anne Arponen said: “Studies show that consumers want a wider range of good-tasting and local product options in the selection of plant-based products. Consumers enjoy experimenting with plant-based products. The products are non-dairy, so they also make a good option for vegans and milk allergic persons.”

In May 2021, Valio spun off the Oddlygood business and sought an investment partner. Seven months later, Valio announced Mandatum Asset Management as Oddlygood’s new minority investor. Valio remains the majority shareholder.

In October 2023, via Oddygood, Valio, bought Sweden-based vegan brand Planti from Norway’s Kavli Holding.

The deal saw Oddlygood become the owner of the Planti brand and the related intellectual property rights. Planti’s product range includes plant-based alternatives to milk, yogurt and crème fraîche.

As part of the acquisition, Valio acquired Planti’s production facility in the Finnish city of Turku.

Granarolo

Italian dairy group Granarolo has a dairy-free range made from local ingredients – soya and rice cultivated in Italy.

The range includes dairy-free drinks made from soya, rice, hazelnuts, almonds and coconut, soya yogurts and cooking creams, and Italian soya ice cream.

All the Granarolo 100% dairy free soya products are certified according to the DTP 030 standard – products not containing nor deriving from genetically modified soy.

PHW Gruppe

In September 2019, German meat giant PHW Gruppe acquired the distribution rights for Italian start-up AIXA Trade’s dairy-free mozzarella cheese product Mondarella.

PHW Gruppe will hold the distribution rights for the whole of Europe and supply the retail and foodservice channels from next spring.

Mondarella is a vegan product based on almonds, olive oil, sea salt and water. It looks similar to buffalo mozzarella.

Marcus Keitzer, PHW board member for alternative protein sources, said at the time: “Our strategic distribution partnership with AIXA Trade is an exciting addition to our alternative protein source business, which is currently under construction.

“We bring to these partnerships our strong sales know-how as well as our decades of expertise in the European market, so that this new generation of plant-based products can be successful as quickly as possible. Mondarella is an all-rounder and is suitable for many dishes such as caprese, salads, burgers and pizza.”

AIXA Trade, based in Valledoria, Sardinia, was founded in 2017. Its product ideas are created in Italy and brought to market maturity in Germany by food technicians before being produced and distributed by experienced food manufacturers.

In February 2019, PHW Gruppe signed a warehousing, merchandising and distribution deal with US-based Just for its egg alternative product Just Egg in Europe.

HP Hood

In December 2018, New York State-based dairy group Hood launched its first vegan milk line in the shape of Planet Oat.

The Planet Oat line is available in four flavours: Original, Extra Creamy, Vanilla, and Dark Chocolate.

Hood, which can trace its roots back to 1846, produces dairy items such as Lactaid milk, ice cream, and cottage cheese. It said it has developed its oatmilk to provide consumers with a versatile plant-based alternative.

Chris Ross, Hood vice president of marketing, said: “In today’s landscape, the consumer is forced to make trade-offs almost every time she uses ‘milk’ – one for cooking, one for the kids, one for her coffee, one for her smoothies, one for general wellness. And even in that, there are conscious trade-offs around taste, satisfaction, nutrition, and concerns about animal welfare and the environment.”

Delamere Dairy

UK-based Delamere Dairy launched its first branded plant-based range of milk alternative drinks – Planted – in 2018.

The Cheshire-based goat’s milk specialist said the new product builds on its “track record in dairy alternatives”.

Two flavours – Coconut with Fairtrade Cocoa and Oat with Banana – were launched.

The Planted products are fortified with calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12, and are vegan approved by the Vegetarian Society, meaning they are free from animal-derived ingredients, are GMO-free and with no cross-contamination during production.

Emmi

In April 2020 Switzerland-based dairy group Emmi revealed it was targeting the plant-based dairy alternatives market with the launch of a new product line, Beleaf.

Emmi said it was aiming to compete with “imported vegan products” through the range, which will be sold through domestic retailers.

Beleaf’s dairy-free line-up consists of yogurt alternatives, drinks and shakes based on almonds or oats. Emmi’s coffee drinks also sprouted a vegan offshoot in the shape of Emmi Caffè Drink Almond Macchiato.

Epigamia

Epigamia, an India-based dairy business founded in 2015, has more than 20 SKUs spread across yogurt, smoothies, ghee-based spreads, curd and traditional Bengali desserts, mishti doi.

In June 2020, the company entered the plant-based category with the launch of coconut milk yogurts, which, at the time, co-founder and chief executive Rohan Mirchandani claimed was a first in India. They are sold via Epigamia’s direct-to-consumer platform.

“Launching this product range is core to Epigamia’s vision of contemporising the Indian dairy industry,” Mirchandani told just-food. “The plant-based range is also a big leap in Epigamia’s long-term goals to enable a sustainable livelihood and a cleaner environment.”

Among the investors in Epigamia is Danone.

Sodiaal

The French dairy major has made a foray into plant-based alternatives through its flagship milk brand Candia.

In June 2020, Candia, one of the best-selling milk brands in France, ventured into plant-based alternatives with the launch of two beverages under the Candia Végétal sub-brand.

The varieties – Praline Almond and Roasted Hazelnut – were developed as French consumers were “demanding more taste and more variety in the choices available to them at breakfast”, the company said. “They refuse to compromise on pleasure and nutrition.”

The plant-based milk alternatives are sold in 50cl bottles, which the group describes as “practical” and “easy to take everywhere with you”.

Sodiaal suggested a price of EUR1.29 (US$1.45 then) for the beverages.

Bega Cheese

The Australian dairy group launched its first plant-based cheese in March 2023.

“The launch of Bega’s Plant Based cheese is an important evolution to ensure that Bega Group is positioned to take advantage of the growing plant-based segment,” Matt Gray, marketing general manager at the company’s Bega Foods arm, said.

Vegemite manufacturer Bega Cheese became a partner in a dairy-alternative drinks venture alongside Vitasoy International Holdings in 2021 as part of the acquisition of Lion Dairy & Drinks.

However, in January 2023, Bega agreed to sell its share in the venture to Vitasoy.

Norco

In early 2023, the Australian co-op started selling pea- and oat-based drinks in Woolworths stores in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales, the company’s home state.

Norco said its P2 Pea Protein Mylk and its Oat Mylk give Australian consumers a chance to use an alternative to milk “without needing to compromise on nutrition or taste”.

Brownes Dairy

Staying in Australia, Brownes Dairy is another major player in the country’s dairy sector to have ventured into dairy alternatives.

Earlier this year, the company, based in Western Australia, unveiled a range of plant-based alternatives to milk.

The group launched a three-strong line-up of almond, oat and dairy drinks.

Savencia Fromage & Dairy

Savencia is another France-based dairy major to have an interest in plant-based alternatives.

Under two flagship cheese brands, the company sells plant-based substitutes in France and in Germany.

In 2020, Savencia launched a plant-based spread, based on almonds, in France under its Tartare brand.

A year later, the company rolled out a similar product under its Bresso brand in Germany.

2021 also saw Savencia launch Vivre Vert, a range of plant-based products including drinks, desserts and cooking sauces.

The group’s activity in the plant-based market has also taken in M&A. In October 2021, Savencia acquired Hope Foods, a US supplier of plant-based dips and spreads.

Yili

In July 2020, Chinese dairy giant Yili, or Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial Group, to give it its full name, was revealed as a corporate partner in the launch of a new investment fund and accelerator aimed targeting plant-based start-ups in China.

The Lever China Alternative Protein Fund, launched by investor Lever VC and accelerator operator Brinc, plaanned to invest CNY40m (US$5.7m then) over the next four years in entrepreneurs and early stage alternative protein companies focusing on the mainland Chinese market.

Keytone Dairy

The New Zealand-listed dairy business launched a range of vegan protein shakes in Australia in 2020, claiming a market first.

Keytone said the Tonik Plant line was “the first vegan/plant based ready-to-drink protein shake in the Australian marketplace”.

Six flavour SKUs have been developed, manufactured at Keytone Dairy’s ready-to-drink bottling facility in Melbourne.

Keytone said it launched Tonik Plant “in response to [the] rapidly-growing demand for plant-based health products and, in particular, to capitalise on a number of the top global trends for food; namely plant-based foods, better-for-you snacking and health food on-demand”.

Hochland

In December 2020 German dairy group Hochland joined forces with Israeli peer Tnuva and other investors to back Israel-based animal-free start-up Remilk to the tune of US$11.3m from a group of investors.

Remilk produces an alternative to traditional milk without the need for cows using a microbial fermentation technology, which reproduces milk proteins to be used in dairy products.

Based in Tel Aviv, Remilk will use the funds to expand its production and distribution capabilities.

Hochwald Foods

The similar-sounding Hochwald Foods, another German dairy processor, moved into plant-based alternatives in 2023.

Hochwald Foods decided to use its Bärenmarke brand to make its first foray into the plant-based market.

“Entering the market for plant-based beverages with our Bärenmarke brand is a major milestone for us as a dairy company,” Hochwald chief sales officer Thilo Pomykala said.

“To honour the responsibility for our brand and the trust we are shown by our consumers, we have analysed the market very carefully to ensure that we can offer products that are truly developed to meet consumer needs.”

Megmilk Snow Brand Co.

In 2023, Megmilk, one of Japan’s largest dairy groups, said it would join forces with Singapore’s Agrocorp International to set up a factory to make plant-based dairy ingredients.

The facility was to be located in Malaysia and make pea-based ingredients to sell to plant-based manufacturers – and for use in a consumer brand marketed by Agrocorp.

The companies told Just Food the factory was expected to start production in late 2025.

Orkla

In October 2023, Nordic food heavyweight Orkla took part in the A$24.4m (then $15.3m) Series A financing round of Eden Brew, an Australian start-up developing animal-free dairy proteins and products.

Eden Brew was set up in 2021 by Australian dairy group Norco, along with CSIRO and Main Sequence Ventures, the fund set up to run the government agency’s innovation fund.

Orkla is also the majority shareholder in Denmark-based dairy-alts business Naturli’ Foods.

Fonterra

In August 2023, New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra invested in the seed funding round of Vivici, a Dutch start-up developing animal-free dairy proteins through precision fermentation.

Fonterra is one of the founding investors in the start-up, which is headquartered near The Hague.

Vivici said “alternative sources of protein, complementary to traditional agriculture, are needed to feed the world sustainably, efficiently and safely”.

The start-up suggested global demand for protein will “nearly double by 2050 and current ways of producing protein alone cannot be scaled sustainably to meet that demand”.

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