2026
9
US Milk and Non-Dairy Milk Market Report 2026
2026-09-23T14:04:03+00:00
REP4E4EAF0A_F003_4243_8EAF_0AF0031243A7
3695
196387
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Report
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The US dairy and non-dairy milk market sees split performance: dairy is enjoying sustained growth while non-dairy sales continue to soften year-over-year. However, usage of milk is expanding, as consumers…
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Dairy and Dairy Substitute Drinks
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US Milk and Non-Dairy Milk Market Report 2026

The US dairy and non-dairy milk market sees split performance: dairy is enjoying sustained growth while non-dairy sales continue to soften year-over-year.

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  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Outlook for milk and non-dairy milk
    • Opportunities
    • The real growth opportunity isn’t conversion
    • Graph 1: occasion usage, by milk type, 2026
    • Serve GLP-1 users with functional and catered single-serve options
    • Graph 2: select polar statements, by GLP-1 status, 2026
    • Embrace the benefits of plant-based blends
  2. THE MARKET

    • Dairy milk market size and forecast
    • Non-dairy milk market size and forecast
    • Market factors
    • Market context
    • Consumer confidence remains low, dairy prices remain high
    • Graph 3: consumer sentiment index, 2021-26
    • Graph 4: dairy and related products, 2021-2026
    • Supply stays relatively steady
    • Dairy expands operations, non-dairy sees mixed results
    • Non-dairy milk continues to fight battles on social media
    • Nutritional drinks demonstrate ultra-filtered milk’s star power
    • GLP-1 usage is muddled in milk and non-dairy milk
    • Graph 5: GLP-1 usage and attitudes, 2026
    • Graph 6: past three month purchase of milk type, by GLP-1 status, 2026
    • Market size
    • Dairy milk sits in a good spot
    • Retail sales and forecast of dairy milk
    • Graph 7: total retail sales and forecast of dairy milk, at current prices, 2021-31
    • Retail sales and forecast of dairy milk
    • Non-dairy milk needs to make a move
    • Retail sales and forecast of non-dairy milk
    • Graph 8: total retail sales and forecast of non-dairy milk, at current prices, 2021-31
    • Retail sales and forecast of non-dairy milk
    • Non-dairy breakdown by segment
    • Retail sales and forecast of non-dairy milk, by segment
    • Graph 9: total retail sales and forecast of non-dairy milk, by segment, at current prices, 2021-31
    • Retail sales and forecast of non-dairy milk, by segment
    • Market share/brand share
    • Dairy milk finds premium-fueled success
    • Graph 10: MULO+ sales of dairy milk, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2025 and 2026
    • Dairy milk finds premium-fueled success
    • Almond milk sees sales cool
    • Graph 11: MULO+ sales of almond milk, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2025 and 2026
    • Almond milk sees sales cool
    • Coconut milk enjoys decent gains
    • Graph 12: MULO+ sales of coconut milk, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2025 and 2026
    • Coconut milk enjoys decent gains
    • All boats rise in soy’s sea
    • Graph 13: MULO+ sales of soy milk, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2025 and 2026
    • All boats rise in soy’s sea
    • Oat milk faces a major shakeup
    • Graph 14: MULO+ sales of oat milk, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2025 and 2026
    • Oat milk faces a major shakeup
  3. THE CONSUMER

    • Milk preferences are changing
    • Milk consumption continues to expand repertoires
    • Graph 15: past 3 month purchase of milk, 2023-26
    • Milk consumption continues to expand repertoires
    • Graph 16: repertoire of milk/non-dairy milk consumption, 2025-26
    • The tension between naturality and added benefits
    • Graph 17: naturality vs benefits polar, by generation, 2026
    • Single-serve adoption skews towards the financially stable
    • Graph 18: single vs multi-serve preference, by financial situation, 2026
    • Young consumers are rewriting their milk usage
    • Dairy milk’s comeback is being fueled by Gen Z
    • Graph 19: any past 3 month consumption of dairy milk, total and Gen Z, 2026
    • Protein is powering Gen Z’s interest in dairy milk, and their appetite for it continues to grow
    • Graph 20: reasons for purchasing dairy over non-dairy milk more often, total and Gen Z, 2026
    • Younger consumers want more nutrition from non-dairy milk
    • Graph 21: reasons for purchasing non-dairy over dairy milk more often, total and Gen Z, 2026
    • Craving convenience
    • Graph 22: single vs. multi-serve preference, by generation, 2026
    • The tension between dairy and non-dairy
    • For fans of both, dairy milk occupies most of the fridge
    • Dairy’s advantage is built on familiarity as well as function
    • Graph 23: reasons for purchasing dairy over non-dairy milk more often, purchasers of both, 2026
    • Graph 24: reasons for purchasing non-dairy over dairy milk more often, purchasers of both, 2026
    • Dairy milk dominates important perceptions
    • Graph 25: attributes associated with dairy and non-dairy milk, 2026
    • Consumers need non-dairy milk to step up
    • Graph 26: desired features in dairy and non-dairy milk, 2026
    • Consumers need non-dairy milk to step up
  4. PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING

    • Ultra-filtered frenzy
    • Making ultra-filtered organic
    • Private-label milk begins its counterattack
    • Moozy believes it “can” change the game
    • A2 milks continue to expand
    • Malk bets on coconut as an area of growth
    • Whole formulations aim to address the hole in non-dairy milks
    • Silk’s protein play
    • Established brands “simply” rethink formulations
    • Going bananas
    • Milk flight
  5. APPENDIX

    • Market definition
    • The market
    • Forecast methodology
    • Forecast methodology – fan chart
    • The dairy milk market
    • Total retail sales and forecast of dairy milk, at inflation-adjusted prices
    • Average annual household spending on dairy milk
    • Retail sales of dairy milk, by channel
    • Sales of select other dairy milk brands
    • The non-dairy milk market
    • Total retail sales and forecast of non-dairy milk, at inflation-adjusted prices
    • Average annual household spending on non-dairy milk
    • Retail sales of non-dairy milk, by channel
    • The consumer
    • Consumer research questions
    • Added nutrition and benefits drive single-serve drinkers, but they desire more
    • Graph 27: nutrition vs taste polar, by format preference, 2026
    • Consumer research methodology – US
    • US generation groups
    • Abbreviations
Download Report Summary

"Heightened expectations for protein and nutrition are moving milk beyond its staple status, renewing dairy’s relevance while challenging non-dairy brands to strengthen their offerings."

Jack Doggett, Food & Drink Analyst

Jack Doggett, Food & Drink Analyst

The US dairy and non-dairy milk market sees split performance: dairy is enjoying sustained growth while non-dairy sales continue to soften year-over-year. However, usage of milk is expanding, as consumers are broadening repertoires and are choosing milk based on outcome, format, and benefits. As a result, innovations in milk have been focused on delivering clean, functional nutrition without compromising on taste.

Younger consumers are beginning to reshape expectations for milk brands. Their focus on nutrient density and protein has brought them back to dairy milk, but lost momentum with non-dairy. Meanwhile, Gen Z is particularly focused on single-serve options, undoubtedly inspired by the success and convenience of other milk-adjacent categories like nutrition and performance drinks. These emerging patterns suggest milk is beginning to undergo a shift from being mainly a background staple towards a more targeted and intentional dietary addition.

This Report Looks at the Following Areas:

  • Market size and forecast of dairy and non-dairy milk
  • Purchase trends and repertoire expansion of milk
  • Attitudes surrounding naturality and added benefits in milk
  • Single-serve attitudes and behaviors
  • Strengths of dairy and non-dairy milk
  • Desired innovations in dairy and non-dairy milk
  • New innovations and strategies in the category

Market Definitions

The scope of this Report includes both the dairy and non-dairy milk markets. Each market has its own market size and forecast.

The dairy milk market size includes:

  • refrigerated dairy milks (eg skim/lowfat milk, whole milk, flavored milk) and shelf-stable RTD milk (eg unrefrigerated dairy milk)

The non-dairy market size includes:

  • almond milk
  • coconut milk
  • soy milk
  • oat milk
  • other non-dairy milk (eg cashew milk)

Cream, creamers, condensed/evaporated milk and powdered milk are excluded from the dairy milk market size.

Non-dairy cream and creamers are excluded from the non-dairy milk market size.

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