In the beverage industry, finding out which flavors consumers enjoy is a lot like the story of Goldilocks. It requires some trial and error to discover what is just right. Within the creamers and dairy drinks segment, experts share what is working and what is not.

Julie Smolyansky, CEO of Lifeway Foods Inc., Morton Grove, Ill., states that the company’s plain kefir continues to be one of its best-selling products because of its natural base of kefir with the company’s signature line of probiotics.

The company’s line of flavored products, like Strawberry Banana and Mixed Berry, are well-loved by consumers, she adds.

“For those looking for unique choices, we’re seeing a great deal of interest in creative, fun flavors that we now offer in our Flavor Fusions line of lactose-free kefir that we released in October 2024,” Smolyansky says. “With delicious choices including coconut pineapple, guava jackfruit, wild blueberry lavender, and even hot honey, we’ve met the needs of what consumers want in a fun, gut-healthy product that allows them to enjoy life’s everyday experiences with something extra special.”

John Rodwan, editorial director at Wintersville, Ohio-based Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC) shares that, with dairy drinks as a whole, chocolate remains “far and away” the largest flavor by volume.

“Unlike milk, no creamer flavor has a 95% share of volume the way chocolate does among flavored milks,” he says.

Nurri, a better-for-you (BFY) lifestyle brand based in Little Chute, Wis., recently announced its new Vanilla flavor in its line of protein milk shakes.

“This Vanilla launch is another example of how Nurri is driving innovation and meeting demand in the growing ultra-filtered milk category,” said Tom Lehocky, vice president of sales, in a statement at the time of the release. “We’re proud of its delicious, creamy vanilla flavors, and we’re glad we can show our customers and consumers that we’re listening to their requests and delivering the flavors they want.”

The brand says this new flavor captures the essence of melted vanilla ice cream in every sip, featuring a smooth texture and rich, nostalgic flavor. The offering is lactose-free and packed with essential vitamins and minerals, with 30 grams of protein, 1 gram of sugar, and 150 calories in each 100%-recyclable aluminum can, it notes.

Victoria Badiola, vice president of Greek and functional nutrition at Denver-based Danone North America, shares her thoughts regarding flavors in relation to dairy drinks specifically.

“The use of real dairy also means that certain flavors pair best with the natural dairy taste,” she shares. “With that, natural fruits including strawberry, banana, peach and other mixed berries are often flavors of choice given the complementary nature.”

Mitch Madoff, head of retail partnerships at Keychain, New York, says that the most popular dairy drink flavors include vanilla, chocolate, caramel, and coffee.

“Vanilla remains a classic favorite due to its versatility and smoothness, while chocolate and caramel offer a sweet, indulgent experience,” he notes. “Fairlife’s CorePower, a popular dairy-based protein drink, highlights the widespread appeal of both chocolate and vanilla, with Keychain’s platform recording significant growth in these flavor selections.”

In terms of creamers, Madoff shares that Chobani “seems to dominate the market,” with vanilla and sweet cream emerging as the most popular flavors according to Keychain’s data.

“Other favorite flavors include caramel macchiato, hazelnut, and white chocolate mocha,” he says. “During the holiday season, consumers also love flavors like pumpkin spice and peppermint mocha.”

Laura Shenkar, founder and CEO of Austin, Texas-based pecan milk brand PKN, shares that the brand offers two flavors of creamer, Unsweetened Original and Sweet Vanilla.

“We have developed proprietary roasting techniques to bring out the full, buttery taste of pecans,” she states. “So we don’t need any additional flavors. Pecans are innately delicious.”

It seems that, whether it’s dairy-based or plant-based, creamer and dairy drinks brands will continue to deliver on taste trends that consumers enjoy.