The data is in, and in dairy’s corner of the world, it
brings some comfort at a challenging time. Throughout the market ups and downs
of the pandemic era, consumers love of dairy products has been a constant, even
rising in 2020 from 2019 and once again proving that, despite these challenging
times, a glass of milk remains as relevant as ever.
Retail dairy purchases, which jumped at the pandemic’s
beginning, have remained elevated throughout the year.
With more meals being prepared at home, dairy has provided
comfort in uncomfortable times. Baking went better with butter. Coffee was
complemented with real dairy cream or half-and-half. Milk remained essential to
family nutrition.
MILK CONSUMPTION GREW DURING PANDEMIC
Milk consumption itself saw gains across categories.
Buttermilk use rose with the baking revival, organic and conventional volumes
of fluid milk rose, and lactose-free milk saw increases comparable to those of
plant-based beverages – which, despite the hype from the fake-milk marketers,
is a comparably-sized market to that of lactose-free alone.
What’s beyond compare is just how much more milk sales grew
relative to plant-based during the pandemic – nearly $1 billion in growth
compared to less than $400 million for plant-based.
DAIRY BEATS PLANT-BASED GROWTH
True, plant-based posted a larger percentage gain during the
pandemic – it always does, because its totals build from a smaller sales base.
But in sheer sales growth, plant-based beverages aren’t on the same playing
field as milk.
Everyone has a lot going on these days, and little of it is
easy. But good news is even more appreciated whenever it can be found, and the
consumer embrace of the foods that really matter is a part of the “new normal”
that shows signs of becoming … normal. It’s showing some staying power – just
like the 24/7, 365-days-a-year dairy industry itself. We remain strong, and
ready for what’s ahead. The data backs it up. So does the determination.
--Naitonal Milk Producers Federation