The 50:50 blend of lactose-free dairy milk with a non-dairy alternative such as oats or almonds looks for a balance between dairy and non-dairy. The growing trend of flexitarianism opens the space for hybrid dairy products.ĭFA Live Real Farms brand led the hybrid pack in 2020 with the rollout of its Dairy+ milk blends (lactose-free milks featuring 50:50 blends of plant-based milk and cow’s milk) to retailers in the Northeast as it pioneered the trend in the dairy case after seeing more brands experiment with the concept in the meat category. Post-COVID, it’s more important than ever for dairy brands to keep up to date with new consumer demands. Blends offer an easy way to achieve these goals. Consumers may want to boost protein intake, cut dairy in the interest of a lactose-free diet or add more vegetables to their diet. There are many motivations for buying dairy hybrid products, many of which overlap with one another. It’s important to understand what drives the current ’flexitarian’ trend, where consumers are increasing their intake of plant-based foods and limiting animal product consumption.

However, some consumers are not ready to commit fully to a plant-based diet. Brands can harness both products’ taste and health benefits, offering the best of both worlds to consumers while meeting evolving consumer demands, according to a 2020 study by Mintel, a global market research firm.Īccording to the Bord Bia Irish Food Board, plant-based dairy alternatives are becoming increasingly popular among vegans and non-vegans alike. Dairy hybrids are blended products involving plant proteins being incorporated into dairy products.

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