PLANT BASED DAIRY ALTERNATIVES
Next generation cheese
Plant-based, delicious and healthy added value
Plant-based products enjoy double-digit growth
(photo: Doehler)
in their market share. As more and more people
choose to follow a vegetarian diet or even cut out
animal ingredients altogether, they are looking for more
sustainability in their food and beverages for their modern,
healthy lifestyles. Although consumers are interested in
plant-based foods, they want them to be as close as possible
to the taste and sensory properties of traditional products,
such as desserts and cheese. Moreover, they expect
the products to provide functional added value. Consumers
are therefore placing increasingly complex demands on
their food and beverages.
Plant-based gaining in popularity
Around 29 per cent of consumers worldwide are attempting
to increase their consumption of plant-based proteins,
while 40 per cent pay active attention to vegetarian or
plant-based nutrition. The term “plant-based” in general
appeals to 72 per cent.1
66 per cent of those who already consume plant-based
products in North and South America, and 65 per cent of
those in Europe, say that they are particularly interested in
plant-based cheese.2 51 per cent of consumers in Europe
and 58 per cent of consumers in North and South America
state that they want to actively promote a healthy and
health-conscious lifestyle by consuming dairy-free alternatives
– as shown in two online studies by Döhler Sensory and
Consumer Science (SCS), conducted in 2018 and 2019.3 The
studies show that an average of 45 per cent of consumers
in North and South America consume plant-based products
at least once a month; the figure for Europe is 47 per
cent.4 80 per cent of these consumers in North and South
America, and 74 per cent in Europe, consume these foods
at least two to three times per week.5
Plant-based cheese on the rise
Purely plant-based cheese currently accounts for around 2 per
cent of all market launches for cheese on the European market,
with 40 per cent of global turnover generated in Europe.6
22 per cent of the plant-based cheeses launched on the
market globally are block cheeses.7 With a wide range of natural
ingredients for dairy-free cheese, Doehler is serving the
emergent market for plant-based block and sliced cheese.
With its unique mixing technology and application experience,
the company offers a functional powder mixture of texturisers,
plant-based proteins, natural colours, spice preparations
and natural flavours for plant-based cheese alternatives.
The block and sliced cheeses impress with an authentic
look, a full-bodied mouthfeel and a natural taste that fully
lives up to milk-based cheese – and appeals to the indulgent
experience consumers know and love. The cheese also displays
optimum melting properties, making it ideal for cooking,
while plant-based proteins offer healthy added value.
Not only block and sliced cheeses, but also applications
that correspond to the popular cream cheese, are emerging
on the market for plant-based cheese varieties. Doehler offers
a range of concepts based on almond, nut, seed, cashew or
coconut, which are used to supply fats and to create a creamy
mouthfeel. Additional plant-based proteins from chickpeas,
beans or peas replace animal proteins and are therefore added
as protein sources. They also provide a pleasant mouthfeel,
a creamy texture and an optimum nutrient composition. The
proteins are produced at special production sites – Doehler
thus offers an extensive portfolio of tailor-made solutions for
plant-based cream cheese-style products, including myriad
spices and herbs for various taste and texture requirements.
The portfolio is positioned as clean label.
Delicious alternatives to dairy products
Many consumers are already familiar with plant-based preparations
in drinks, desserts and ice cream creations in particular,
as an alternative to applications that are traditionally
produced with milk. For example, consumers have already
experienced the creamy texture with fresh, tropical taste for
applications based on coconut, the nutty taste of almondbased
preparations, and the mild sweetness when rice and
oats are used – ideal for breakfast cereal.
6 · September 2020 ¦ international-dairy.com
/international-dairy.com
