A recent research study by Mintel suggests that one in three Britons now drink plant-based milk.
The Guardian recently reported that consumers have spent £100m more last year on plant-based milk drinks increasing the market to almost £400m per year.
The report showed that nearly a third of adults were consuming plant-based milk with oat milk seeing the largest increase up to £146m in 2020 from £74m previously.
Many brands have been increasing their vegan products by adding plant-based milk to their line. Linda McCartney recently branched out from meat alternatives into the plant milk sector with the launch of oat, rice, coconut, and soya varieties. Co-op GRO brand launched The Oaty One, and popular Swedish company Oatly secured a new site in Peterborough, East Anglia.
The variety of plant-based milk now available is vast and there is something to suit most dietary needs with milk style drinks being made from soy, oat, coconut, rice, hemp, peas, nuts, and even potatoes. There are also now individual types such as Barista, whole, skinny, no sugar etc.
As well as supermarkets stocking plenty of choices the majority of coffee shop chains and cafes now also offer milk alternatives with Costa offering Soya, coconut, almond, and oat, Starbucks stocking soya, Pret selling soy and rice- coconut, and Cafe Nero offering soy, oat, and Coconut options.
The Vegan Society has seen an increase across all products which shows a general increase in brands trying to hit consumers demands for more vegan products.
It states on The Vegan Society website that, ‘In 2019 alone The Vegan Society registered an impressive 14,262 products with The Vegan Trademark. That’s an increase in registrations from 2018 of 49%, that saw 9,590 products successfully registered.’ and I expect we will see a further increase in 2020.
