Danone Will Convert a French Dairy Plant into a New Oat Milk Factory

Cornered by plant-based demand, the dairy industry and its food giants have no choice but to adapt. International dairy giant Danone just announced that it will convert a French dairy factory into an oat milk plant as demand for plant-based milk rapidly increases worldwide. The multinational dairy company invested $49 million to transform one of its facilities into a completely plant-based production plant. Danone aims to open its plant-based Villecomtal-sur-Arros facility by Fall 2022 in an attempt to meet growing plant-based demand within Europe and across the world.

“We observe consumers’ interest in plant-based [products], which are a simple solution for those who want a more varied and diversified diet,” General Director of Danone Products, France François Eyraud said in a statement.

Danone announced that the facility should be completely plant-based by the second quarter of 2023. The facility coincides with the companies overarching mission to increase its global plant-based sale to $6.1 billion by 2025. Recently, the food giant has adapted its product selections to accommodate a growing plant-based consumer base. The company is working to diversify its plant-based portfolio, launching its own brands and acquiring established companies.

Danone began its vegan brand expansion in 2016 when it announced that it acquired WhiteWave Foods for $12.5 billion. The acquisition brought Danone signature vegan brands including Silk, So Delicious, Vega, and Alpro. The acquisition deal resulted in a $760 million profit spike for the company, inspiring the food giant to continue expanding its plant-based offerings.

The new plant-based milk facility will be primarily dedicated to producing more of its Alpro plant-based milk and dairy products. The company announced that it is currently developing a new product line entitled “plant-based 2.0” that will be involved in Alpro Not Milk, Silk NextMilk, and So Delicious Wondermilk.

“Our mission is to continue advancing plant-based lifestyles with delicious tasting products. In five years, we hope to see more people — vegans and flexitarians alike — adding plant-based products into their everyday diets as a tasty choice,” Danone told vegconomist in an interview.

Danone is also expanding its plant-based presence within the US: The company recently acquired plant-based pioneer Earth Island – the parent company of the iconic Follow Your Heart brand. Follow Your Heart has paved the way for vegan eating across the US, developing innovative recipes for dairy-free cheese, Vegenaise, and a variety of other products. Most recently, the brand debuted a plant-based boxed macaroni, providing consumers with a healthy, vegan option in a pinch.

Plant-based milk – alongside protein alternatives – is a cornerstone of the vegan food market. A report from the Good Food Institute found that the food category is currently valued at $2.5 billion, accounting for 35 percent of the total plant-based food market. This figure is slated to grow at an exponential rate, encouraging food giants like Danone to introduce plant-based products to current selections.

The alternative dairy brands recognize the shifting consumer interest and intend to latch onto the spreading trend. Global Market Insights released a report that projects the dairy alternative market will experience an unprecedented momentum, set to reach $45 billion by 2027 with a CAGR of 10 percent. The report highlights that companies including Danone, Hain Celestial Group, Pacific Foods, Sun Opta, and more are driving the plant-based milk industry into the future by expanding product offerings and distribution efforts.

French company The Bel Group – parent company of Boursin, Babybel, and Laughing Cow – recently expanded its product portfolio to include more dairy-free products. Boursin launched a dairy-free take on one of its classic cheeses with its Boursin Dairy-Free Cheese Spread Alternative in Garlic & Herbs flavor formulated alongside Follow Your Heart. The Bel Group is also developing vegan versions of the classic red wax-packaged cheeses and Laughing Cow’s wedges.

Pinto beans have 78.7 milligrams in one cup so add these to any salad, dip or burrito.

Molasses has 82 milligrams in 2 tablespoons. Use it in baking instead of sugar. Look for Blackstrap molasses, and keep in mind that these have been used in recipes for 100s of years, especially in the South. Molasses is also believed to help relieve stress and anxiety.

Tempeh has 96 milligrams of calcium in 100 grams when cooked. You can make chicken substitute from it.

Tofu has about 104mg in one ounce when prepared pan-fried. Throw it in your stir fry, or order it at your next Chinese meal with veggies. It's the perfect non-meat protein. (Note look for the calcium quotient on the Nutrition Facts on the label.)

Bok choy has 158 milligrams of calcium in one cup. Add it to your soup, stir fry or salad.

Soybeans have 175 milligrams of calcium per cup. Sprinkle them on a salad.

Kale has 177 milligrams in one cup. The heroic green makes a great salad, goes in smoothies and delivers a healthy dose of fiber as well.

Turnip greens have 197 milligrams in one cup. Add them to your favorite soup or smoothie.

Collard greens have 268 milligrams of calcium in one cup. Substitute it for string beans.

Alternate milks like almond, soy or rice milk have 300-500 milligrams of calcium in 8 ounces so use any of these on your cereal or in your morning smoothie.