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Sloane Brothers caters to dairy-free boom
A rise in demand for non-dairy options is forcing dairy manufacturers to think on their feet. According to research firm TechNavio, the global dairy alternative beverages market will grow at a CAGR of 15.74% between 2013–2018. Sloane Brothers is launching a portfolio of dairy-free frozen yoghurt options, following the “positive reaction” from consumers about its tropical flavour coconut-cream based offering. “In our opinion, providing a quality alternative that tastes good will result in market expansion, benefiting consumers and suppliers along the way. Our experience in introducing dairy-free options for our consumers has resulted in more satisfied consumers and an increased goodwill in our community in general,” says Joseph Chakra, founder, Sloane Brothers.
Camelicious eyes wider GCC market
After garnering a strong demand across the UAE, Emirates Industry for Camel Milk & Products (EICMP) has set its sights on expanding further across the GCC with its Camelicious range of products. “Currently, we aren’t facing any competition in export, especially when it comes to quality and brand awareness in this region. Hence, we hope to occupy about 65% of the camel milk product market in the GCC by the end of this year. We are targeting about 2% market share in the GCC, across the overall dairy market, including bovine products,” says Mutasher Al Badry, deputy general manager at EICMP.
Top trends
We ask the experts what direction the dairy market is moving in
- Dairy alternatives: As dairy intolerances increasingly come to the fore, there has been a spike in alternative dairy products. Sloane Brothers Frozen Yoghurt has introduced a dairy free option. “Introducing a dairy-free option in the frozen yoghurt parlours actually helps the market expand, in our opinion, as it allows consumers to enjoy the taste of the product even if they cannot consume dairy products,” explains Joseph Chakra, founder of Sloane Brothers.
- Liquid milk dip: The vast variety of dairy options available in the market has resulted in liquid milk suffering a slight dip in sales. According to Idin Asmitha, executive sous chef, Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara: “Liquid milk consumption at hotel has dropped but a rising demand for drinking yoghurt and cheeses (particularly low fat cheeses) have developed.”
- Health consciousness: According to the International Diabetes Federation, 37 million people in MENA are suffering from diabetes — that is about 93.7% of the population — and that number is expected to double in the next 20 years. Meanwhile, a study by the Health Metrics and Evaluation Institute (IHME) at the University of Washington conducted last year, revealed there are 259 million people suffering from diabetes in the Middle East. “Health consciousness is on the rise, as a result,” explains Badry. “Consumers are attracted to healthy products of a certain quality and standard. Due to these factors, the focus of the F&B sector will be changing; innovation, speed and quality will be the factors driving the business in the future.”
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