Nestlé launches dairy-free Milo in Asia as appetite for dairy alternatives grows

08 Apr 2021 --- Swiss food giant Nestlé is launching plant-based versions of some of its most-loved brands in Asia as consumers include more dairy alternatives in their diet. That now has a new plant-based version of Milo, the world’s leading chocolate malt beverage. 

This new version replaces the milk in the original recipe with almond and soy, but the other two core ingredients – malt and cocoa – remain the same. 

It will be initially launched in Asia, starting first in Malaysia, a country with generations of Milo fans going back 70 years to its launch in 1950. Nestlé Malaysia will also be introducing a range of plant-based Nescafé lattes. Both will appear on shelves this month.

Chocolate malt plant-based
Consumers have a long attachment with Milo, creating a dairy alternative version needed to deliver a high-quality taste experience.

Nestlé’s development teams worked hard to deliver the ionic Milo taste while using only plant-based ingredients.

Each bottle offers 6.5 grams of protein and is also low in sugar, with a combination of vitamins and minerals to support effective energy release.

It follows the launch of a plant-based Milo powder in Australia in 2020, which created massive excitement in the country where Milo was first introduced in 1934.

“Milo is an iconic brand in Malaysia and across Asia and much-loved across generations. We want to provide consumers with on-trend alternatives in formats they want. That’s why we’re delighted to launch Milo Dairy Free to support people’s lifestyle choices,” says Mayank Trivedi, head of the Dairy Strategic Business Unit at Nestlé.

Each bottle offers 6.5 grams of protein and is also low in sugar, with a combination of vitamins and minerals to support effective energy release. (Credit: Nestlé)A whole “latte” flavor
Nestlé is a pioneer in innovative plant-based coffee mixes, and Nestlé Malaysia is now introducing a plant-based version of another iconic brand – Nescafé oat and almond lattes.

The company says that plant-based coffee mixes are a popular and growing category. Nestlé has already launched them across several countries in Europe, Latin America and Oceania, and recently launched a range of plant-based Nescafé and Starbucks lattes in Japan.

The Nescafé Dairy Free Almond Latte combines almond and pea, while oat and soy are the main ingredients for the Nescafé Dairy Free Oat Latte. Both are blended with smooth Nescafé coffee and can be enjoyed hot or cold.

Nestlé’s sharpened plant-based focus
Using its expertise in dairy products and plant-based proteins, Nestlé is focused on developing a wide variety of dairy alternatives that complement people's everyday diet. This includes products made from pea, rice, oat, soy, coconut and almonds.

“We’re expanding our offerings across Asia by developing a variety of great-tasting, nutritious and sustainable plant-based products,” adds Guglielmo Bonora, head of Nestlé’s R&D Center in Singapore.

“We want to make it easier for people to embrace plant-based alternatives in their diet while also reducing our carbon footprint across the supply chain.”

Nestlé’s R&D center in Singapore serves as the regional innovation hub to develop plant-based dairy alternatives in Asia.

The center collaborates closely with Nestlé's global R&D network of around 300 scientists, engineers and product developers active in the research and development of plant-based products.

The need for plant-based dairy alternatives that taste great and offer strong nutritionals is rising, as more families are following this trend. Many consumers cite environmental reasons, as plant-based proteins are produced with significantly lower emissions, land- and water usage.

Edited by Gaynor Selby