Silk’s Oatmilk Yogurt Takes on The Alternative Dairy Aisle

US plant-based food and beverage brand Silk is expanding its ‘Oat Yeah’ oatmilk line with the launch of their new oatmilk yogurt alternatives.

The Danone-owned brand already has a line of almond and soy-milk alternative yogurts but is now including oat milk after their previous beverage line was well-received earlier this year.

“Creating a yogurt alternative was the natural next step after our well-received Silk Oat Yeah Oatmilk beverage launch earlier this year,” said Joshua Cook, brand manager of plant-based yogurt for Silk. “Oat Yeah Oatmilk Yogurt Alternatives are a tasty option for any person looking to make progress toward their health and wellness goals — whether they have specific dietary needs or are simply looking to try something new.”

The line includes four flavors – vanilla, mixed berry, strawberry, and mango – and is made with gluten free-oats that contain live and active cultures which make for a creamy and craveable snack, according to the company.

The product line sells for a retail price of $1.89 per 5.30z cup and is labeled dairy-free, fat-free, soy-free, certified gluten-free, vegan action certified and non-GMO.

As plant-based food continues to gain main-stream attraction, oat milk is also growing commodity reaping the benefits of this trend.

When Swedish brand Oately hit the US market in 2016, its widespread popularity led to a shortage in cafés and grocers across the US in 2018. This fueled the company to open up it’s first-ever US manufacturing plant in Millville New Jersey this year, to meet consumer demand and increase production by an eight-fold.

It’s no wonder more US companies are starting to cash in on this food item. Quaker Oats recently debuted their line of oat milk beverages in February and So Delicious Dairy further experimented with their line of oat products by launching an oat milk ice cream earlier this year.

With the younger generation focusing on health and sustainability, the alternative dairy market is increasing. According to Markets and Markets research, the industry was worth 17.4 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach 29.6 billion by 2023 with a compound annual growth rate of 11.4 percent.

The booming market has even fueled hype in the conventional dairy industry. In March Nancy Probiotic Foods, a company that is largely recognized for its probiotic yogurt introduced an alternative dairy-line of oat milk yogurt to further expand its product scope and gain new consumer appeal.

In addition, oat milk’s naturally creamy and frothy texture makes it the perfect dairy substitute for ingredient providers in the alternative market, fueling further potential for it to reach large scale production for other alternative dairy food items in the years to come.