World’s biggest dairy company launches plant-based milk range
The move highlights the growing popularity of alternative milks, with the company even converting one of its milk processing factories into a dedicated plant-based production facility.
Credit: Lactalis Canada
The world’s biggest dairy company has announced it is launching a range of plant-based milks.
France-based Lactalis Groups is the world’s biggest dairy producer, with $31.51 billion in global sales last year.
But after falling profitability for dairy products and rising demand for plant-based milks, the Canadian arm of Lactalis is now releasing a new plant-based brand to help recapture some of the market.
Lactalis Canada’s new Enjoy! brand features six plant-based milks including oat, almond, hazelnut, and oat vanilla. The company says each flavor has a great taste with a creamy texture that froths nicely, and is loaded with a high protein content too.
Credit: Lactalis Canada
In a statement, Lactalis Canada said that there is a “growing consumer demand for plant-based options that taste great and have positive health impacts”.
This demand has led the dairy giant to recently convert a 33,150 sq ft production facility in Ontario to become a dedicated plant-based manufacturing plant.
The site had previously manufactured dairy products, but Lactalis Canada made the decision to cease dairy milk processing in 2022 and transform the space to manufacture only plant-based milks instead. The company said that the move was a result of the dairy sector in Ontario facing decreasing profitability amid falling demand and increased production costs.
“While our core business is dairy, as an innovation leader and as demonstrated by our forthcoming expansion into plant-based, we are constantly following the consumer and continually seeking opportunities to innovate and respond to the market,” Mark Taylor, Lactalis Canada’s CEO said previously.
The Dairy Industry is Embracing the Plant-Based Demand
As a dairy company with 140 years of brand heritage, Lactalis Canada’s decision to convert some of its output into plant-based production is the most recent example of how dairy companies are responding to consumer demand for plant-based alternatives to cheese and milk.
Bel Group, another global leader in the dairy industry, has already diversified its portfolio with plant-based versions of its signature products including dairy-free Boursin cheese spread and Babybel. It also owns the plant-based Nurishh brand which specializes in dairy-free cheeses and spreads.
Credit: Bel Group
The company Boermarke, known as a dairy leader in the Netherlands, has gone even further, and announced that it is transitioning its dairy production line to focus solely on its plant-based dairy products. The Netherlands has seen a drop in sales for traditional milk and an increase for plant-based milks, a trend that has been seen across several international markets.
The Kinder, More Sustainable Choice
The growing popularity of plant-based milks is seen as positive progress towards helping the food industry to become more sustainable. The dairy industry has faced increasing pressure over its high environmental impact, with the production of dairy milk resulting in more than double the emissions and requiring considerably more land and water than any plant-based milk.
A decrease in demand for dairy products is good for animals, too. Estimates show that there are nearly 10 million dairy cows in the US alone. The majority of these animals are kept in large-scale “zero-grazing” facilities.
Choosing a plant-based lifestyle is one of the most impactful choices you can make for animals, the environment, and your own well-being. By going plant-based for 30 days (and maybe beyond), you'll experience firsthand the incredible benefits of this compassionate choice. Take our 30-Day Plant Power Challenge here.
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