Barry Callebaut, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, has announced the introduction of the 100% dairy free ‘M_lk Chocolate’ as part of a ‘Plant Craft’ Indulgence range. The new chocolate satisfies the growing demand for plant-based indulgence, particularly among millennials and centennials. The new chocolate is part of a wider portfolio of ‘Plant Craft’ products ranging from chocolate, cocoa, nuts and fillings to decorations.
New generation goes ‘flexitarian’
Barry Callebaut has said millennials and centennials earnestly want to live a happy, healthy life, in symbiosis with the world around them. They want food and drinks that are tasty and good for them and also good for the planet and its people.
The launch comes at a time when sustainability-conscious consumers, especially millennials and centennials, are increasingly adopting a ‘flexitarian’ or ‘freegan’ lifestyle – navigating seamlessly between plant-based products one day and animal products the next, or taking part in milestones like ‘Veganuary’– January as a month of an exclusively vegan diet – to reduce their carbon footprint. In the UK alone, a 2019 YouGov study found that while only 1% of consumers classify as vegan, 14% of the population have adopted a plant-based diet one or more days a week.
For younger generations, these figures are even stronger: a recent Barry Callebaut consumer study found that while almost 9% of British Generation Z and Y respondents claim to be vegan, a further 14% identify as vegetarian and almost one third (27%) as flexitarian. Other notable findings from the survey include:
- Almost a quarter (23%) of the younger generation consume dairy-free products on a daily basis – a stark contrast to the over-37 respondents, 81% of whom never consumer dairy-free products.
- Crucially, the plant-based population is on the rise: 47% of say they are consuming more vegan/dairy-free products than five years ago, and the same number expects their own consumption of dairy-free products to rise in the next five years.
- However, that doesn’t mean that they are satisfied with current market offerings: 41% think there are not enough tasty vegan or dairy-free options on the market, and 21% of those who reject plant-based products attribute it to disliking the taste or texture.
Plant-based indulgent experiences that don’t compromise on taste
The new dairy-free ‘M_lk Chocolate’ is creamy, milky and has the typical milk chocolate flavour and texture. It is made with an ingredient of natural origin, exclusively available to Barry Callebaut, coming from a unique root. It took a Barry Callebaut R&D team two years to develop this innovation.
“The next generation of consumers is looking for experiences that are tasty, good for them and good for the planet. With that in mind, we aim to accompany the industry in this plant-based revolution,” commented Pablo Perversi, Chief Innovation, Sustainability and Quality Officer and Head of Gourmet at Barry Callebaut. “With more than 175 years of experience in mastering chocolate, creating indulgent experiences is at the heart of what we do. Through this innovation, we’re proud to offer chocolate creations with all of the creaminess consumers love, 100% dairy-free.”
To support artisans and brands across the world to create plant-based indulgent experiences, Barry Callebaut introduces ‘Plant Craft’, a wide range of dairy-free and vegan ingredients: chocolates, cocoa powders, nut products from paste to fillings as well as decorations.
