People who want to improve their health and immunity levels are driving milk sales, according to the Euromonitor International’s Voice of the Consumer.
It conducted a survey last year and reports that 63 per cent of global consumers said having a strong immunity system is what defines being healthy.
Label claims such as high protein, organic, and no added sugar are also growing as consumers increasingly view food as medicine, it said.
Generally, health claims have become increasingly important to global consumers, with 43 per cent of respondents paying close attention to nutritional information and labelling, highlighting the significance of clear labels and messaging.
Snacking is more popular with people staying home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Canada, Snack’rs cubes and Squeak’rs cheese curds formats were launched to reinvent cheese as a convenient option for school lunches, or to add to local culinary delights such as poutine, the report said.
Immunity and gut health continue to be hot topics in the industry, and the pandemic has further supported demand for immune-boosting yoghurt variants, which is likely to remain a relevant trend in the category as consumers lean towards products that highlight wellness., it said.
Sour milk products, including kefir, are set to be the fastest growing performers globally, with an expected forecast of four per cent in retail value sales.
Emerging markets are delivering the fastest growth for cheese, and in particular Asia Pacific is expected to witness a seven per cent increase largely driven by strong growth in China.
Cheese is increasingly recognised in China as containing high-quality nutrition, particularly for children, due to its calcium and protein content, without a high level of salt or other added ingredients.
