One-third Of Brits Drink Plant-based Milk - Mintel Report

And that's how plant-based milk went mainstream.

With one in three people buying plant-based milk, British consumers spent over £100m more on dairy-free milk alternatives in 2020, The Guardian reported. 

According to a research from Mintel, 32% of participants drank plant-based milk in 2020 compared to 25% a year before. Among younger consumers (aged 25-44), the number is even higher - 44%.

The growing sales were driven by environmental and health concerns. 

From 2,000 people polled, 25% said the pandemic had made eating vegan food more appealing to them. Among younger participants (less than 35 years), that figure rose to 38%.

Brits spent £394m on plant-based milk in 2020, up 32% compared to numbers in 2019. 

Oat milk is the UK's favourite plant-based milk, with almond milk and soya coming as second and third choice, respectively. In 2020 UK consumers spent £146m on oat milk and £105m on almond milk, compared to £74m and £96m in 2019. 

Amy Price, a senior food and drink analyst at Mintel explained that such a significant rise of plant-based consumption is "evidence of its firmly mainstream status and appeal far beyond the vegan or vegetarian populations."

An average cow's milk consumption has decreased since the 1950s. However, it's still the most popular milk among consumers, with sales reaching more than £3.2bn at the end of the pandemic. 

Today, plant-based milk brands offer a variety of alternatives that can successfully replace cow's milk. The Barista options can be foamed and used in coffee drinks, there are also varieties without sugar or with added vitamins such as B12 to perfectly supplement the plant-based diet. TheVeganKind currently stocks 83 plant-based milk products!