Despite seeing significant growth during the 2010-2015 timeframe, the dairy and dairy alternatives category has seen a deceleration in growth, according to experts. Although the growth will be at a slower pace, the category still is expected to continue gaining share in the beverage market going forward.
Sensient Colors, a division of Sensient Technologies, announced a major advancement in natural color performance. Sensient’s new SupraRed, using novel natural color technology, will enable brands to deliver on growing consumer demand for natural colors from botanical sources that do not sacrifice on color brightness, the company says.
Shamrock Farms, a brand of Phoenix--based Shamrock Foods Co., announced that it is introducing Cold Brew Coffee and Milk this fall, which combines 100-percent Colombian coffee with fresh Shamrock Farms milk that contains no added hormones.
Lifeway Foods Inc., Morton Grove, Ill., announced results for the second quarter, which ended June 30. Total consolidated net sales increased 28 percent to $29.6 million during the three-month period from $23.1 million during the same three-month period in 2013. This increase is primarily attributable to increased sales and awareness of the company’s flagship Kefir line as well as its ProBugs Organic Kefir for kids and BioKefir lines.
Soymilk continues to be the most popular dairy alternative beverage today, Virginia Lee, senior research analyst at Chicago-based Euromonitor International, told Beverage Industry in its November issue.
Solazyme Roquette Nutritionals offers Almagine HL whole algalin flour, a microalgae-based ingredient that serves as a formulation alternative to dairy, soy, rice and almond milk.
When it comes to children’s nutrition, parents are faced with the challenge of finding products that meet their nutritional preferences, but also appeal to their children. But the challenge extends beyond parents and begins with the manufacturers. Beverage-makers are tasked with developing products to help bridge the gap between nutritional demands and pleasing taste profiles.
In 1999, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a health claim allowing soymilk manufacturers to state that consuming 25 grams of soy protein in a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, says Virginia Lee, senior research analyst at Chicago-based Euromonitor International. This claim boosted the popularity of soymilk, and it continues to be the most popular dairy alternative beverage today, she says. However, the research firm estimates that sales of soymilk declined 5.8 percent from $981 million in 2009 to $924 million in 2010, and another 8.5 percent in 2010 reaching $846 million in 2011.
Shifts among category leaders took place in the dairy alternatives market as almond milk and kefir helped contribute to category growth. The refrigerated kefir, milk substitutes and soymilk category grew 16.4 percent for $608.3 million in sales, according to SymphonyIRI Group, Chicago, for the 52 weeks ending May 15 in U.S. supermarkets, drug stores, gas and convenience stores and mass merchandise outlets, excluding Wal-Mart.