Nestlé, the largest food manufacturer globally, known for brands like Hot Pockets, Lean Cuisine, and Nespresso, has been progressively enhancing its presence in the U.S. plant-based market. The company made a significant move into this sector in 2017 with its acquisition of Sweet Earth. Based in Switzerland, Nestlé has also developed plant-based variations for well-known brands, including Coffee mate and Starbucks creamers, while introducing plant-based meat options in products such as DiGiorno Pizza and Stouffer’s Lasagna. In 2022, Nestlé announced its exploration of products utilizing animal-free dairy proteins, starting with test launches of chocolate and plain milk-like beverages made with Perfect Day’s whey protein, created through precision fermentation.
The introduction of a milk product under its Natural Bliss brand, which has traditionally been associated with dairy creamers, expands its plant-based offerings to occasions beyond coffee—such as cereal or standalone drinking—market segments that were previously overlooked by Nestlé. Even if Natural Bliss Oat Milk does not turn into a major revenue source, it allows Nestlé to capture sales that might have otherwise gone to competitors while strengthening the brand’s retail presence.
Daniel Jhung, President of Beverage at Nestlé USA, stated, “We know our consumers seek products that are both delicious and nutritious, and this offering delivers with a first-to-market blend of oat and fava bean protein that offers more protein than the leading oat milk brand, less sugar than dairy milk, and can be enjoyed in several ways, at any time of day.” The oat and fava plant-based beverages will be available nationally in grocery stores and mass retail outlets across the U.S., coming in two varieties: Natural Bliss Oat Milk Original and Unsweetened. While the label prominently features oats, Nestlé chose to incorporate the high-protein fava bean to enhance the product’s nutritional profile.
Alicia Enciso, Chief Marketing Officer for Nestlé USA, mentioned in an interview with Food Dive that although plant-based products are “growing at a small pace, it will continue to be extremely important” for the consumer packaged goods giant. “Consumers are now requesting mainstream brands to have plant-based options,” she noted. “We have such a broad portfolio that we can really offer strongly similar alternatives.”
According to the latest data from SPINS, the Plant-Based Foods Association, and the Good Food Institute, plant-based milk sales accounted for 16% of the entire milk category in 2021. As Nestlé continues to innovate in this space, the addition of products like bariatric advantage calcium citrate chewy bite 500 mg could enhance their nutritional offerings, aligning with consumer demands for nutritious and delicious plant-based options.