Plant-based dairy producers in the European Union - history, brands and directions of development 🇪🇺
Just a few years ago, store shelves in Europe were dominated by cow’s milk, yogurt, butter, and cheeses of animal origin. Plant-based products were a niche, found mainly in organic shops and chosen by a narrow group of consumers.
Today, the situation looks completely different – the plant-based dairy alternatives market in the EU exceeded €2.5 billion in 2023, and the growth trend shows no signs of slowing down.Â
Who is behind this revolution? Let’s take a closer look at the producers who shaped the market and are now developing it across different segments – from mass-market brands to local, artisanal projects.
1. The beginnings of plant-based dairy in Europe
Alpro was one of the first to take steps into the plant-based market. Founded in Belgium in the 1980s, the brand offered soy drinks and yogurts. Its sister brand, Provamel, later expanded into a line of organic products.
Soon after, Sojasun from France (1988) joined the market, focusing on soy drinks and fermented desserts. At that time, plant-based alternatives were considered mainly as products for vegans or people with lactose intolerance.
However, as health and environmental awareness grew, so did consumer demand.
2. A new wave of brands - from local innovations to global players
Today, plant-based dairy producers in the EU include both international corporations and small, family-run niche brands.
2.1. Poland
Magda RoĹ›linna (Magda plant-based) – combines the tradition of dairy craftsmanship with modern plant-based technology, creating vegan yogurts, kefirs, and plant-based cheeses made from coconut, cashews, and hazelnuts. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it was transformed from a traditional dairy into a fully plant-based creamery. To commemorate this milestone, every June the company celebrates an annual event called “Farewell to the Cow.”
Millek – Millek is a small manufacturer from Nowy DwĂłr GdaĹ„ski that combines the cheesemaking traditions of the Ĺ»uĹ‚awy region with modern plant-based cuisine. Using hemp seeds, almonds, soy, legumes, and spring water, the brand produces plant-based kefirs, vegan yogurts, and cheeses. Its founders – Dmytro, a chef passionate about fermentation, and Sylwester, an enthusiast of healthy eating – recreate traditional cheesemaking techniques while replacing milk entirely with plant-based ingredients.
SERio – Serio is a brand founded by Monia and MichaĹ‚, who, during a camper trip across Europe, discovered the lack of tasty, protein-rich cheese alternatives – their inspiration came from lupin, which they encountered in Portugal. Since 2020, they have been developing their own line of plant-based products: Greek-style cheeses, slices, and round-shaped varieties in different flavors, as well as broad bean chips. They offer two product ranges – Samo Zdrowie (“Pure Health,” lupin-based cheeses) and Jak Prawdziwy (“Just Like the Real Thing,” cheeses most closely resembling traditional dairy) – combining taste, quality, and affordability. Serio’s products are aimed not only at vegans but also at those curious about new flavors, flexitarians, and anyone who occasionally wants to replace dairy with a plant-based alternative that is delicious, nutritious, and accessible to everyone.
2.2. Germany
Vly – Vly is a German brand founded in 2018 by Nicolas (a nutritionist), Niklas (a lawyer), and Moritz (a food technologist), with a mission to create wholesome dairy alternatives based on protein-rich ingredients. After two years of intensive research and development, the company launched its first products and today offers a wide range – from milk and yogurt alternatives in various flavors to nutritious shakes and even protein granola. Vly focuses on quality and nutritional value, providing energy both for physically active people and for those who simply want to eat healthily.
Veganz – Veganz is a German brand that since 2015 has developed more than 470 fully plant-based products – from cheese and milk alternatives to sweets such as chocolates and gummies, as well as meat, fish, and egg substitutes and plant-based proteins. The company focuses on diversity and quality while also emphasizing ecological responsibility – most of its products are sourced from Europe, many are certified organic, and its packaging is designed with sustainability in mind (including compostable films and mineral oil-free cardboard). Veganz’s mission is to inspire a plant-based lifestyle and to support a sustainable future for people, animals, and the planet.
2.3. Netherlands
Boermarke – Boermarke is a family-owned company with more than 35 years of experience, which began by producing ice cream on a farm and has since grown into one of the leading creators of plant-based dairy alternatives – including cheeses, yogurts, and ice creams. Its mission is to offer delicious, 100% plant-based products that combine taste, innovation, and sustainability, helping people feel happy in a healthier world. Boermarke’s ambition is to become the global number one partner in the plant-based dairy alternatives category, while its foundation remains rooted in its family character, long-standing expertise, and consistent commitment to the highest quality.
2.4. Scandinavia
Oatly – Oatly is a Swedish brand founded in 1994 by food scientist Rickard Ă–ste and his brother Björn, specializing in oat-based dairy alternatives such as milk, cream, spreads, and ice cream. From the very beginning, the company has focused on innovation and the development of the oat-based category. Today, Oatly is recognized worldwide and is famous for its bold and creative marketing campaigns.
Naturli – Naturli is a Danish brand operating since 1988 that from the very beginning has challenged the traditional perception of dairy and meat, proving that they don’t have to come from animals. Its product range includes a wide selection of plant-based alternatives – from spreads and butter substitutes to plant milks and drinks, as well as ice cream, creams, and meat alternatives. Naturli focuses on innovation, taste, and sustainability, inspiring consumers around the world to choose plant-based products as a full-value alternative.
Oddlygood – Oddlygood is a global plant-based brand established in 2018, specializing in oat drinks, desserts, cheese alternatives, and cooking creams. Its philosophy is based on a simple principle: food must be both delicious and good for the planet. Oddlygood emphasizes exceptional taste without compromise, encouraging consumers to enjoy plant-based products in everyday life while celebrating diversity and that “little bit of oddness” that makes the world more interesting and flavorful.
2.5. Southern Europe
Valsoia – Valsoia is an Italian brand that since the 1990s has been developing a wide range of plant-based alternatives – from drinks and spreads to yogurts, cooking creams, desserts, and the famous Italian gelato. In 2001, Valsoia opened the first 100% plant-based gelato factory in Piedmont, producing ice cream made from natural ingredients with a creamy, authentically Italian texture. As one of the first brands, Valsoia introduced products based not only on soy and rice but also on almonds, cashews, coconut, and oats, becoming a pioneer of the plant-based revolution.
Violife – Violife is a Greek brand that originated from the vegan community in Thessaloniki and has been producing 100% plant-based, dairy-free, and GMO-free dairy and meat alternatives at its factory in Drama since the 1990s. Its product range includes cheeses, butters, spreads, creams, and meat substitutes, which have gained recognition among consumers in more than 50 countries worldwide – not only among vegans and vegetarians but also flexitarians looking for tasty, high-quality plant-based alternatives.
2.6. France, Belgium, Austria
Alpro – Alpro is a European brand founded in 1980 in Belgium as part of the Vandemoortele Group, and it is now owned by the Danone Group. The company specializes in producing plant-based alternatives to milk, yogurts, desserts, and cooking creams, made from soy, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, rice, oats, and coconut. Alpro employs over 1,200 people and operates three production facilities in Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom. Its products are available across Europe and beyond, though its primary market remains Europe, where the brand has been setting standards in the plant-based food segment for decades.
Sojasun – Sojasun is a French brand founded in 1988 in Brittany by Jean and Françoise Clanchin, who recognized the potential of soy as a source of nutrition and environmental benefits. They created the first soy-based yogurt, and in 1995 they launched France’s own GMO-free soy production chain. Sojasun was one of the first brands to bring plant-based desserts and dairy alternatives to supermarkets, and in 1998 it also introduced its first veggie burger. Today, the brand offers a wide range of plant-based drinks, yogurts, and desserts, some of which – such as soy desserts in apricot-guava or raspberry-passion fruit flavors – have remained bestsellers for years.
Joya – Joya is an Austrian brand specializing in the production of plant-based dairy alternatives and is part of the Mona Naturprodukte group. It was created for people looking for healthy, tasty, and diverse dairy-free products. Joya’s range includes plant-based drinks made from soy, oats, almonds, rice, and coconut, as well as yogurts, desserts, and cooking creams. The brand emphasizes high-quality ingredients, simple recipes, and a modern approach to plant-based nutrition, which has made its products popular in many European countries.
3. What unites plant-based dairy producers?
Whether we are talking about global leaders or local artisanal producers, plant-based dairy companies share a common goal – to deliver products that are tasty, healthy, and environmentally friendly. They focus on technological innovation, investing in research and development to achieve textures and flavors as close as possible to traditional dairy. They draw on a wide variety of raw materials – from soy and oats to peas, rice, almonds, nuts, and coconut – allowing them to meet different dietary needs and taste preferences.
Sustainability also plays a key role: reducing COâ‚‚ emissions, lowering water usage, and supporting local crops are deeply embedded in the DNA of this industry. Just as important is their ability to operate across the spectrum, from niche premium segments to the mass market, with products available in major retail chains and in foodservice. It is precisely this flexibility and forward-looking vision that have made plant-based dairy one of the fastest-growing food sectors in Europe.
Summary
The plant-based dairy market in the European Union is today a dynamic and diverse space, where pioneers from the 1980s and 1990s meet modern start-ups and local producers. What unites them is a single mission – creating products that combine tradition, innovation, and responsibility toward the planet.
Europe has now become one of the most important global hubs for plant-based dairy alternatives, with brands such as Oatly, Alpro, Valsoia, and Vly inspiring producers around the world.
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