Customized report – Free from lactose and free from dairy cheese in Germany and the United Kingdom
October 2018
In general, retail value sales of free from products, which include packaged food products that are free from lactose and free from dairy, among others, have seen considerable growth in 2017 in Germany and the United Kingdom (U.K.).
It is becoming more common to avoid dairy without having a specific food intolerance. Thus, growth will come from both those needing to avoid and wanting to avoid.
Retail sales and prices
The tables below show the historic numbers for free from lactose cheese sold on the German and British markets
Historic retail sales (US$ millions) and growth (%)
Type | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017[e] | CAGR* 2013-2017[e] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free from lactose cheese | 16.1 | 16.8 | 17.7 | 18.4 | 19.3 | 5% |
Free from lactose milk | 149.8 | 158.2 | 168.6 | 178.1 | 187.7 | 6% |
Free from lactose other dairy | 43.1 | 47.9 | 53.5 | 58.4 | 61.8 | 9% |
Free from lactose yoghurt | 120.2 | 127.1 | 134.9 | 142.8 | 150.9 | 6% |
Total free from lactose dairy | 329.2 | 350.0 | 374.6 | 397.7 | 419.7 | 6% |
Source: Euromonitor International, 2017 e: Estimate *CAGR: Compound annual growth rate |
Historic retail sales (US$ millions) and growth (%)
Type | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017[e] | CAGR* 2013-2017[e] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free from lactose cheese | 14.6 | 17.4 | 19.5 | 22.1 | 26.1 | 16% |
Free from lactose milk | 26.3 | 29.7 | 30.6 | 36.8 | 41.1 | 12% |
Free from lactose other dairy | 1.1 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.0 | −2% |
Free from lactose yoghurt | 20.9 | 21.2 | 21.4 | 26.9 | 30.9 | 10% |
Total free from lactose dairy | 62.8 | 69.9 | 72.6 | 86.8 | 99.2 | 12% |
Source: Euromonitor International, 2017 e: Estimate *CAGR: Compound annual growth rate |
According to Euromonitor International (2017), there has been an overall decline in dairy retail sales in Western Europe, led by the U.K. and Italy. Even though retail sales for non-dairy cheese alternatives are not currently available, a general look at the growth of retail sales of the non-dairy product category show an increasing preference of consumers towards dairy-free products.
A growing number of consumers in Germany and the U.K. avoid dairy, believing themselves not only to be sensitive to milk sugar, but to dairy proteins as well. Some are simply seeking to reduce the animal-derived food component of their diets, be it for health, ethical or sustainability reasons.
In Germany, free from dairy saw a 4% growth from 2013 to 2017, probably as a reflection of the greater movement towards plant-based food. However, this trend was mainly seen in health food stores and was not yet in the mainstream.
In the U.K., the free from dairy category recorded an estimated growth of 13% from 2013 to 2017, with free from dairy other milk alternatives even more dynamic with an increase of 49% (including plant-based alternatives, such as nut and cereal milks).
Historic retail sales (US$ millions) and growth (%)
Type | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017[e] | CAGR* 2013-2017[e] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free from dairy ice cream alternatives | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 19% |
Free from dairy milk alternatives | 139.9 | 149.7 | 154.1 | 158.2 | 161.4 | 4% |
Free from dairy soy milk | 123.7 | 130.6 | 132.3 | 133.9 | 134.4 | 2% |
Free from dairy other milk alternatives | 16.2 | 19.1 | 21.7 | 24.3 | 26.9 | 14% |
Free from dairy soy chilled and shelf stable desserts | 22.0 | 23.2 | 24.0 | 24.5 | 25.0 | 3% |
Free from dairy soy yoghurt | 56.6 | 59.9 | 62.8 | 66.0 | 68.5 | 5% |
Total dairy-free | 218.6 | 233.0 | 241.2 | 249.0 | 255.3 | 4% |
Source: Euromonitor International, 2017 e: Estimate *CAGR: Compound annual growth rate Note: Data for cheese is not currently available |
Historic retail sales (US$ millions) and growth (%)
Type | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017[e] | CAGR* 2013-2017[e] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free from dairy ice cream alternatives | 8.2 | 8.5 | 9.1 | 9.5 | 10.2 | 6% |
Free from dairy milk alternatives | 178.3 | 197.6 | 223.9 | 261.6 | 295.5 | 13% |
Free from dairy soy milk | 151.4 | 156.4 | 158.7 | 161.6 | 163.9 | 2% |
Free from dairy other milk alternatives | 26.9 | 41.2 | 65.2 | 100.0 | 131.6 | 49% |
Free from dairy soy chilled and shelf stable desserts | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.3 | 4% |
Free from dairy soy yoghurt | 31.4 | 32.4 | 37.0 | 38.6 | 44.8 | 9% |
Total dairy-free | 220.6 | 241.4 | 273.1 | 312.9 | 353.7 | 13% |
Source: Euromonitor International, 2017 e: Estimate *CAGR: Compound annual growth rate Note: Data for cheese is not currently available |
Example of products
According to Mintel, between January and December 2017, a total of eighteen products were launched with a dairy-free claim – nine in Germany and nine in the U.K. All dairy-free products belong to the "processed cheese" sub-category and were also labelled with the claim low/no/reduced allergen. In many cases, products had also the claim no animal ingredients, vegan, gluten free or low/no/reduced lactose. Six of these eighteen products had an import status, and two out of the eighteen had a "spreadable" texture. Their price ranged between US$2.97 and US$4.27.
Note: The dairy-free claim is used when on-pack terms highlight that the product is dairy-free. Products that state to be free from milk or non-dairy may contain milk proteins or other milk derived ingredients. The dairy-Free claim would only be captured for 'free from milk' and 'non-dairy' products when they are actually free from dairy and dairy derivatives.
Below is a snapshot of the eighteen cheese alternatives launched in Germany and the U.K. in 2017 (data available until the beginning of December).
All in Foods
Germany
October 2017
Original Cheese
Arivia
UK
October 2017
Mozzarella Flavour Block for Pizza
Arivia
Germany
September 2017
Organic Vegan Slices
Arivia
Germany
September 2017
Organic Vegan Alternative for Pizza
Bute Island Foods
Germany
September 2017
Dairy Free Spread with Chives
Bute Island Foods
Germany
September 2017
Dairy Free Spread with Spring Onion & Cracked Black Pepper
Tesco
UK
July 2017
Coconut Oil Alternative to Mature Cheddar Cheese
Tesco
UK
July 2017
Coconut Oil Alternative to Wensleydale Cheese with Cranberries
Tofutown
Germany
July 2017
Herr Berta Organic Veggie Processed Cheese Melt Shreds
Tofutown
Germany
July 2017
Organic Pizza Shreds
Sainsbury's
UK
June 2017
Original Coconut-Based Alternative to Soft Cheese
Sainsbury's
UK
June 2017
Grated Cheddar-Style Coconut-Based Alternative to Cheese
Good Carma Foods
UK
May 2017
Original Dairy-Free Cheese Alternative to Parmesan
Earth Island
UK
April 2017
Dairy Free Pepper Jack Style Cheese Alternative Slices
Euro Company
Germany
March 2017
Fermented Nut Cheese
Tofutown
Germany
February 2017
Herr Berta Organic Veggie Melt Singles
Arivia
UK
February 2017
Prosociano Cheese
VBites Foods
UK
January 2017
Edam Style Cheese Alternative
Resources
- Euromonitor International, 2018
- Mintel, 2017
Prepared by Josique Lorenzo, Market Analyst, Global Analysis
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (2017).
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