Product quality is the most critical factor in consumers’ dairy product purchasing decisions. That’s according to a March article from Innova Market Insights based on its Top Trends 2025: Dairy & Dairy Alternatives – Global report.
Dairy products play an essential role in global diets, providing vital nutrients like calcium and protein while promoting overall health and wellness, the researcher stated. Consumers prioritize dairy for its ability to meet their nutritional needs while addressing emerging lifestyle preferences.
“As consumer demands evolve, the global dairy trends adapt to incorporate innovative trends,” Innova said.
Following are some top trends in dairy and dairy alternatives this year.
Ingredients and beyond
Shoppers’ demand for added value is becoming standard, and they are increasingly seeking value from high quality ingredients, Innova found. As noted above, consumers prioritize product quality as the top factor in their dairy product purchasing decisions. Globally, one in five consumers reduces their dairy consumption due to the presence of artificial ingredients in the products. The top claims influencing their dairy purchasing decision are product safety and naturalness. Their top three concerns in dairy consumption are food quality, health and food safety.
Precision wellness
Today’s information culture is challenging brands to meet targeted nutritional needs at any life stage. Dairy trends reveal that the informed and health-conscious consumer base increasingly seeks dairy products tailored to specific life stages and nutritional needs. Older generations, such as Boomers and Gen X, value balanced and age-specific nutrition. Their dairy purchases reflect this preference over the past year, Innova said. Weight management also emerges as a key driver in the precision wellness trend, with one in five consumers considering dairy as vital to achieving their goals.
Fortified dairy products enriched with essential nutrients, such as calcium and protein, are gaining attention for supporting bone health, gut health and protein intake. Additionally, claims related to weight loss, belly fat reduction and digestive health are rising, reflecting consumer interest in precision wellness solutions.
Sustainability
Innova’s findings showed that environmental concerns significantly influence consumer food choices. Globally, 22 percent of consumers express concerns about the environmental impact of dairy consumption. They prefer brands/companies that support environmental causes like nature protection, sustainable packaging, waste management, reducing carbon footprint, and rising health and nutrition standards.
Global dairy trends show that consumers increasingly prefer dairy products made with eco-friendly and sustainable practices that reduce their environmental footprint. This includes embracing regenerative agriculture, upcycling waste products and promoting animal welfare.
‘Taste glow’
The “taste glow” trend reflects consumers’ growing interest in beauty-enhancing food and beverages, driven by the booming cosmetic industry. This trend highlights the interconnectedness of nutrition and appearance. One in five consumers purchased food and beverages to improve their physical appearance over the past year. Their top three beauty concerns are facial skin, hair and body skin.
Dairy products with claims supporting skin health display 21 percent compound annual growth rate over the past two years. The top five ingredients related to skin health are vitamin C, vitamin E, collagen, vitamin A and calcium. The link between gut health and skin health further boosts demand for dual-benefit dairy products, according to Innova’s findings.
Mindful choices
There’s also growing demand for products that support mental and emotional well-being. Globally, 36 percent of consumers’ primary health goal is to feel mentally or emotionally well. One in five consumers prefers dairy products to maintain or improve their mental health that includes relieving stress and anxiety, and tiredness and fatigue.
Rethinking plants
Ths trend highlights ongoing consumer enthusiasm toward plants in real and recognizable form, Innova said. Concerns about artificial additives and over-processing impact their choices. Emerging dairy alternatives like lentil- and fava bean-based products are gaining consumer attention as more sustainable and diverse options.
Burgeoning trends
Innova says consumers favor eco-friendly packaging, including those made with compostable or reusable materials.
The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in livestock management plays a vital role in improving efficiency and reducing methane emissions.
Consumers prefer products elevating their mood. Brands can leverage this by developing dairy products that address stress management, sleep quality and overall mood enhancement. Incorporating ingredients such as tryptophan, vitamin B complex and magnesium – known for their mood-boosting properties – could be beneficial.
Opportunities exist in developing products that offer guilt-free indulgence, catering to consumers’ desire for treats that are both delicious and healthy. Currently, consumers indicate there are taste, texture and price gaps in plant-based products, so brands would do well to focus on more affordable products with improved taste and flavor. Focus should be placed on cleaner approaches to plant-based production, using minimal ingredients and emphasizing natural origins.
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