Far East tastes
Beyond soy: Non-dairy milk alternatives
The fortunes of manufacturers of non-dairy milk alternatives are expected to further improve in 2015. According to a survey by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, soy milk production showed 8% annual growth between 2010 and 2013. Though while soy milk is already popular, “almond milk and rice milk consumption is expected to grow among health-conscious Japanese consumers in 2015,” predicted Yuko Kobayashi, food ingredients marketing associate at Nagase & Co in Japan. Compared to whole milk, almond and rice milks have fewer calories, lower fat content and are cholesterol free, meaning these hold increasing appeal to Japan’s ageing population.
