As beverage manufacturers increasingly fill the dairy aisle with plant-based options, Danone North America is betting that a smaller-scale approach could lead to the next breakthrough in the sector: an alternative milk that closely resembles traditional dairy. The France-based producer of plant-based brands Silk and So Delicious undertook a comprehensive deconstruction of milk—analyzing its flavor, nutritional elements, molecular makeup, and even the nostalgic feelings it evokes in consumers—to develop its two new dairy-like products, Silk Nextmilk and So Delicious Wondermilk.
Danone North America executives are hopeful that these products, which took two years to create, will provide the desired taste and texture to entice milk drinkers who have considered transitioning to plant-based options but have previously found them lacking. According to IRI data, around half of consumers feel that the taste and texture of plant-based milk do not meet their expectations of dairy. This sentiment may help explain why conventional milk consumption is twice that of plant-based alternatives: approximately 94% of U.S. households buy milk, while only around 40% purchase plant-based milk.
“We’ve cracked that code for consumers who have been hesitant to switch, thanks to innovation that finally meets their needs,” said John Starkey, president of plant-based food and beverages for Danone North America. “We’ve successfully addressed the barriers that have held them back for so long.” The plant-based milk market is saturated with options, primarily made from oats, soy, cashews, and almonds. In 2020, nearly 40% of U.S. households bought plant-based milk, contributing to sales of $2.5 billion, or about 20% of the total milk market.
Food manufacturers are aggressively working to make plant-based products, including meat and dairy, resemble their animal-based counterparts as closely as possible to attract consumers. NotCo is producing Not Milk, created from water, pea protein, sunflower oil, cabbage juice concentrate, and pineapple juice concentrate, while Oatly has succeeded with oat-based products. Companies like Impossible Foods, which showcased a plant-based milk prototype in 2020, and Beyond Meat, which filed for a trademark on the name Beyond Milk, are likely aiming to replicate their successes in creating faux beef, chicken, and sausages.
Danone’s research and innovation team tested thousands of ingredients before settling on a blend of oat milk, soy protein, coconut oil, coconut milk, and coconut cream, among others, for Silk Nextmilk and So Delicious Wondermilk. This was a challenging endeavor, as the company aimed to recreate the complex profile of milk, as explained by Takoua Debeche, chief research and innovation officer for Danone North America. “We deconstructed each element of dairy milk and then worked on rebuilding it using plant-based ingredients,” she stated. “The challenge lies in how these components interact with one another.”
One significant hurdle was mimicking milk’s distinctive taste profile, which combines sour, bitter, salty, sweet, and creamy elements. Additionally, Danone needed to replicate the unique blend of saturated and unsaturated fats in milk, which provides its rich texture and ability to coat the tongue. Drawing on its experience with dairy products like Horizon Organic milk and Two Good and Activia yogurts, the company sought to recreate the traditional dairy experience. Furthermore, Danone aimed for its new products to match or surpass the nutrient levels found in conventional milk, such as vitamins A, D, and B12, riboflavin, and calcium, while offering fewer calories. This required masking the flavors of the plant ingredients used in the formulation.
The new Danone milks come in whole or 2% fat varieties, sharing many ingredients, but Debeche noted they are tailored for specific consumption occasions. Silk Nextmilk is intended for standalone drinking, while So Delicious Wondermilk is designed for cooking and baking. Additionally, Danone plans to use Wondermilk in a new line of So Delicious ice cream cones and pints. These products are set to launch in January, with Silk Nextmilk available in national grocery stores and So Delicious Wondermilk in natural food channels.
Danone emphasized that Silk Nextmilk and So Delicious Wondermilk are not meant to replace the company’s existing plant-based offerings, but rather to fill a gap in its plant-based portfolio. “Consumers have varied tastes in every household, and many remain loyal to their favorite plant-based beverages,” Starkey explained. “This represents the next wave of growth that we can bring to the category and our business.” In addition, the inclusion of essential nutrients like calcium will be a focus, potentially incorporating options like webber naturals calcium citrate to enhance the nutritional profile of these new products.