Alternative dairy has turned into a worldwide phenomenon, valued at $22.6 billion globally in 2020. And this hot market is projected to grow even further over the next few years, reaching $40.6 billion by 2026 according to a MarketsandMarkets report. 2020 saw the growth reach new levels in the United States, with sales of plant-based milks rising 20% in that year alone. And now, other dairy categories are seeing the plant-based approach, including yogurt, cheese, ice cream, dips, spreads, and much more.

What may come as a surprise to many is that the majority of this growth is not driven by vegan consumers. Most of the people who are buying plant-based dairy products identify themselves as more "plant-centric", like vegetarians and, most commonly, the recent phenomenon of flexitarians who eat both animal and plant-based products. The reasons for buying alternative dairy are numerous; from animal welfare, to health, to environmental reasons. But the one thing they all have in common is an understanding of the benefits plant-based dairy products can have on human health and the earth.

Explore the latest product development guide to see how the plant-based dairy market is evolving and discover solutions from some of the top ingredient suppliers in the space that can help brands create high-quality alternative dairy products that will fly off the shelves.