A global survey revealed that the taste and texture of plant-based dairy products are the main reasons why 57% of consumers are resistant to non-dairy milk. However, continued innovation in the dairy-free category is needed to bridge this flavour gap, with some products like barista milks and coffee creamers already surpassing their dairy counterparts in taste. Price and protein content are also important factors in driving future growth in the plant-based dairy market.

A recent blind taste test conducted by Nectar compared 98 dairy-free products with their dairy equivalents, with 27 products rated as good or better than their dairy counterparts. Coffee creamers and barista milks were shown to be the most promising categories, with leading brands like Oatly and Califia Farms coming close to achieving taste parity with dairy products. Despite the progress made, there is still a need for further research and development to address challenges in categories like mozzarella.