Tetra Pak research says flavored milk will hit the spot
By Canadian Packaging Staff
General Bottling Flavored Milk Sixth Annual Tetra Pak Dairy Index Tetra PakThe sixth Tetra Pak Dairy Index highlights surge in demand for ready-to-drink flavored milk driven by busy, health- and taste-conscious consumers.
New research from Tetra Pak – the Sixth Annual Tetra Pak Dairy Index – forecasts that flavored milk consumption will grow at more than double the rate of white milk globally between 2012 and 2015. Consumers are increasingly turning to tasty, nutritious and conveniently packaged flavored milk as an alternative to other beverages, creating opportunities for dairies to improve profitability.
Flavored milk, the second-most widely consumed Liquid Dairy Product (LDP) after white milk, is forecast to increase by a compound annual rate (CAGR) of 4.1per cent between 2012 and 2015, rising from 17.0 billion liters to 19.2 billion liters. Developing countries will drive demand amidst a growing number of new flavors and products focused on health.
White milk is forecast to grow by 1.7 per cent (CAGR) during the same period – from 208.5 billion liters in 2012 to 219.5 billion liters in 2015. Total LDP demand is set to grow by 2.4 per cent from 280.3 billion liters to 301.3 billion liters during this period, according to Tetra Pak research.
“With white milk increasingly commoditized, flavored milk offers dairies the opportunity to provide value not only to consumers but to their bottom line,” Tetra Pak Group president and chief executive officer Dennis Jönsson. “With the right flavors, portion sizing and formulation, flavored milk can meet a huge range of health, nutritional and lifestyle needs.”
Tetra Pak has identified four drivers fueling the rise in flavored milk consumption:
- the desire for nutritious and healthy food, which is prompting consumers, particularly in developing countries, to turn to nutrient-rich milk products.
- urbanization, rising prosperity and the pace of modern life, which has increased ‘on-the-go’ consumption of ready-to-drink (RTD) flavored milk in convenient portion packs.
- consumers’ eagerness to try new food and drinks, with flavored milk well-poised to meet that need.
- fourth, consumers seeking ‘indulgent’ eating and drinking experiences as a way of escaping the daily grind during times of economic uncertainty.
“People don’t mind spending a bit more for small indulgences when times are tough and they are making bigger sacrifices,” says Libby Costin, global portfolio marketing director.
Though flavored milk consumption is still low compared to other beverages, such as carbonated soft drinks, positive consumer perceptions about the health benefits of milk are creating opportunities to significantly increase flavored milk consumption, according to Tetra Pak. The growth rate for flavored milk consumption is expected to be more than triple that of carbonated soft drinks in 2012-2015. During that period carbonated soft drinks are forecast to grow by 1.3 per cent (CAGR) compared with an estimated of 4.1 per cent (CAGR) for flavored milk.
Traditionally consumed by kids who enjoy its taste, Tetra Pak sees scope for growth beyond kids to teens and adults, and beyond taste to reach the “sweet spot” where taste and health meet.
“For consumers unwilling to compromise on taste, health or convenience, flavored milk is proving an increasingly popular alternative to other beverages,” said Jönsson. While demand for flavored milk is forecast to rise globally, demand in developing countries, particularly across Asia and Latin America, is set to outpace that of developed countries in North America and Europe, highlighting emerging economies as the growth engines of the dairy industry.
In fact, seven of the world’s top 10 flavored milk markets are developing countries, Tetra Pak research shows. China is the world’s largest, followed by the United States and India. Increased demand for flavored milk from 2009 to 2012 was mainly driven by four emerging countries: Brazil, China, India and Indonesia.
The trend is set to continue from 2012 to 2015. While developing countries accounted for 66% of flavored milk consumption in 2012, this is forecast to rise to 69 per cent by 2015. China, South Asia and Southeast Asia drink more than half the world’s flavored milk. In fact, just six Asian countries – China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand – consume 47 per cent of the world’s flavored milk, Tetra Pak research shows.
Cartons have become the established packaging format for flavored milk, according to Tetra Pak. They accounted for 62 per cent of RTD flavored milk packaging in 2012, up from 57 per cent in 2009, and are expected to rise to above 64 per cent in 2015, with portion packs expected to reach 81per cent of RTD flavored milk consumption.
Read more about the Tetra Pak Dairy Index including previous issues at: www.tetrapak.com/dairyindex.
Advertisement
