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Danone is set to launch a high-protein version of its Silk brand, aiming to fill a gap in the plant-based dairy sector and reignite interest in plant-based dairy products.
Protein has become one of the most sought-after ingredients in America, and food and beverage companies are adding it to everything from water and bars to candy and popcorn. However, according to Mintel data cited by Danone, less than 1% of protein-focused innovations are in the plant-based beverage sector, providing Silk with an untapped opportunity.
Silk Protein has 50% more protein per serving and half the sugar than regular dairy milk. Additionally, according to Danone, the product contains 13 grams of complete plant-based protein and 3 grams of fiber, the highest of any refrigerated plant-based milk on the market, and it also contains no artificial sweeteners.
Wendy Nunnelley, president of plant-based foods at Danone North America, told Food Dive that 75% of consumers are adding more protein to their diets. At the same time, nearly two-thirds of shoppers already consume plant-based dairy alternatives on a weekly basis. The overlap between the two areas created “a nice void for plant-based silk proteins to jump into,” she said.
“We really saw a gap in the market for quality plant-based, high-protein products that didn’t exist before and that consumers were demanding,” Nunnelley added. “We’re seeing consumers moving toward protein in a very powerful way.”
The functional benefits of this beverage, coupled with the absence of other options on the market, will provide a meaningful boost to Silk Protein and provide a much-needed jolt to the struggling plant-based milk sector.
According to Circana, U.S. plant-based milk retail sales totaled $2.5 billion in 2024, down 5% from the previous year and reflecting flat levels for the category in 2021. The recent price hikes have helped mask a decline in unit sales, which have been declining year-over-year for three consecutive years.
But the price increases helped partially mask declining unit sales, which have declined for three consecutive years.
In its third-quarter results last month, Danone acknowledged that its factory-based business in the North American market is “still a work in progress.” A Danone spokesperson added in a statement to Food Dive that while “economic pressures and other factors have increased the intensity of the problem across the plant-based space,” the number of U.S. households using dairy alternatives has increased 16% to 56% since 2020.
“Being able to give consumers what they want directly is important at any time, especially when the macroeconomic environment is more challenging,” said Nunnelley.
Silk Protein, which will be available in Original and Chocolate flavors, will launch regionally this month, with a national launch scheduled for early 2026.
Through innovation, Danone continues its aggressive push to push its plant and dairy portfolio deeper into protein. Earlier this year, it launched Oikos yogurt drink and high-protein shake targeting GLP-1 users.
Danone’s top executives recently told analysts that the company is struggling to meet demand for its high-protein yogurt due to a lack of manufacturing capacity in the United States.
