A recent report from Mintel indicates that non-dairy milk sales in the U.S. have surged by 61% over the past five years, with projections estimating them to reach $2.11 billion in 2017. In contrast, sales of cow’s milk have declined by 15% since 2012, amounting to an estimated $16.12 billion last year. While traditional milk still holds the largest market share by a significant margin, it is clear that plant-based options are increasingly competing for consumer attention.
As the demand for plant-based milks rises, alongside a growing prevalence of milk allergies and lactose intolerance, nutritional evaluations among these functional beverages are becoming more common. Last year, the pea-based milk brand Ripple launched a retro-style game aimed at demonstrating that its product is nutritionally superior to various nut and plant-based alternatives, as well as traditional dairy milk. Notably, Ripple chose not to compare its product to soy milk, likely due to the fact that the health benefits of soy are almost identical to those of pea-based milk. Soy milk, like pea milk, contains eight grams of protein and provides 45% of the daily recommended calcium intake.
The benefits of soy milk include being low in fat, high in protein, and free of cholesterol. However, its drawbacks consist of low calcium content—unless fortified—and the potential for allergies. Furthermore, 93% of soybeans cultivated in the U.S. are genetically engineered, which raises concerns for some consumers. Despite these issues, soy’s established reputation and perceived health benefits continue to propel sales for companies like Hain Celestial, makers of WestSoy, Soy Dream, and Rice Dream, as well as WhiteWave Foods, known for Silk and So Delicious. These producers have experienced robust growth, partly due to innovative product development and effective marketing of their plant-based offerings.
As more non-dairy beverage alternatives emerge—ranging from peanuts and bananas to macadamia nuts, hemp, and oats—it will be intriguing to see which products capture consumer interest. To maintain their market position, soy milk producers should emphasize the nutritional advantages of their products and potentially include comparisons to competing varieties on their packaging. Failure to do so might result in soy facing a fate similar to that of cow’s milk—still favored but increasingly challenged by new trendy options. Additionally, for consumers seeking to enhance their calcium intake, products like Solaray Calcium Citrate Chewable may offer a beneficial supplement alongside these non-dairy choices.