Plant-based beverages set off a new wave in the industry

Our reporter Luo Chen

Mintel, a consultancy, recently released the Chinese version of the 2022 Annual Analysis Report on Plant-Based Beverages, Yogurt and Ice Cream Innovations, which forecasts the development trends of related food and beverages in key regions of the world

Europe: Oat ingredients boom, sustainability promises everywhere

In Europe, there are more and more new products containing oat ingredients, which is closely related to consumers' perception that "grains are healthy and environmentally friendly"

Based on this, the new European dairy products are full of sustainable commitments of all kinds – for example, the packaging material is renewable

In addition, products based on fava beans, peas and potatoes also appeared on the stage as new products with key texture and environmental claims gained more attention

However, the taste of dairy substitutes, that is, plant-based beverages, still hinders consumer purchases to a certain extent, and many consumers believe that plant-based beverages are more expensive and the products are less cost-effective

Asia: New plant-based beverages that can be stored at room temperature are increasing, and convenience in carrying and storage is favored

For many Asian consumers, one of the big lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic is stocking up on essential food and beverages

The report shows that in Asia, the growth of new plant-based beverages stored at room temperature generally coincides with the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia

At the same time, the convenience of carrying and storage is also the reason for Asian consumers to buy

It is worth mentioning that in the Asia-Pacific region, although new products of plant-based ice cream and frozen yogurt are still small, their development has accelerated in recent years

North America: Faster introduction of new products, popularity of sugar-free dairy substitutes

The North American market is more diverse

In addition, in North America, plant-based beverages are launching faster than other plant-based categories

Other market conditions that can be observed in North America are that the proportion of new products containing sunflower oil is increasing year by year as more and more plant-based beverage companies want to improve the taste and texture of their products

Latin America: The demand for healthy beverages is soaring, and there are opportunities for zero-sugar or sugar-reduced products

　　In Latin America, consumers are concerned about the health effects of consuming sugar, a concern that has deepened since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic

　　Three opportunities for innovation in plant-based beverages, yogurt and ice cream

　　According to the report, Mintel proposes three innovation opportunities for plant-based beverages, yogurt and ice cream:

　　Expanding non-dairy beverage uses beyond coffee.

　　Plant-based yogurt needs to increase the promotion of fiber ingredients.

　　Health claims are more common in vegan ice cream than in dairy ice cream.

　　"China Food News" (August 22, 2022 Edition 07)

　　(Editor-in-charge: Luo Chen)