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2026 Developments
In 2026, dairy products and alternatives in the US is demonstrating solid value growth and resilience, with retail sales anticipated to reach USD107,590 million and a year-on-year increase of 3% in current terms despite inflationary pressure and macroeconomic uncertainty. The landscape is marked by robust demand for high protein and functional dairy products, as well as a rapidly expanding consumer base for lactose-free offerings, with innovations such as high protein cottage cheese and lactose-free spreadable cheese redefining consumer expectations and expanding access. While plant-based dairy is set to record a contraction of 3% in 2026, overall industry prospects remain attractive due to the strength of traditional dairy and the ongoing shift towards health and wellness, supported by the rising popularity of home cooking, growth in retail e-commerce, and continued investment in clean label and minimally processed products. The environment remains highly fragmented, with leading brands retaining single-digit shares, while private label is expanding, necessitating a focus on value, innovation, and trust to secure growth. To succeed, brands must prioritise targeted product development, transparent communication of functional benefits, and channel strategies that align with evolving shopper preferences for convenience, quality, and affordability.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Dairy Products and Alternatives industry in USA with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to a comprehensive range of core packaged food categories.
If you're in the Dairy Products and Alternatives industry in USA, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Dairy Products and Alternatives in USA report includes:
- Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
- Detailed segmentation of international and local products
- Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Dairy Products and Alternatives in USA?
- Which are the leading brands in Dairy Products and Alternatives in USA?
- How are products distributed in Dairy Products and Alternatives in USA?
- How is the rise of e-commerce and/or the expansion of modern grocery retail impacting traditional retail?
- What are the key health and wellness concerns driving, or challenging, sales in Dairy Products and Alternatives?
- How significant are vegan and vegetarian dietary requirements in determining sales growth in USA?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
- How significant will values-based claims, such as sustainability and ethical labelling, be in supporting future growth and brand equity?
Dairy Products and Alternatives in the US
2026 Developments
Key Data Insights
Chart 1 Key Industry Trends for Dairy Products and Alternatives
Cheese Drives Sales, While High-Protein Innovations Drive Growth for Yoghurt and Sour Milk Products
Mulu Challenges Premium Dairy Norms with Affordable Protein Innovation
Chart 2 Dfa Launches Mulu Cottage Cheese with 18G of Protein per Serving
Kraft Heinz Taps Lactose-Free Demand with Philadelphia Innovation
Chart 3 Philadelphia Cream Cheese Brings New Lactose-Free Innovation to Market
Chart 4 Value Sales 2021-2031
Chart 5 Value Sales by Category 2026
Home Cooking and Nutrition Priorities Expected to Accelerate Demand for Quality Inputs
Cheese to Drive Sales While Plant-Based Decline Set to Ease
Glp-1 Adoption and Clean Eating Set to Reshape Product Development Strategies
Chart 6 Analyst Insight for Dairy Products and Alternatives
Chart 7 Forecast Value Sales 2021-2031
Chart 8 Forecast Value Sales by Category 2026-2031
Danone, Kraft Heinz, Chobani and Nestlé Maintain Leadership as Private Label Expands
Chart 9 Company Shares 2026
Chart 10 Brand Shares 2026
Supermarkets and Hypermarkets Reinforce Private Label Expansion
Retail E-Commerce Accelerates as Functional Dairy Fuels Digital Growth
Chart 11 Retail Channels 2021-2026
Functional Nutrition and Digestive Health Shape the Innovation Agenda
Accessible Protein and Lactose-Free Formats Lead Recent Launches
Value-Driven Innovation Redraws Competitive Boundaries
Chart 12 Economic Context for Dairy Products and Alternatives
Chart 13 Real Gdp Growth 2021-2031
Chart 14 Inflation 2021-2031
Chart 15 Consumer Context for Dairy Products and Alternatives
Chart 16 Population 2021-2031
Chart 17 Population by Generation 2026
Chart 18 Consumer Expenditure 2021-2031
Baby Food in the US
Key Data Insights
Baby Food Summary
Chart 19 Key Industry Trends for Baby Food
Families Seek Affordable Nutrition for Their Babies
Standard Milk Formula Outpaces Other Milk Formula Categories as Shoppers Prioritise Essentials
Little Bellies and Kendamil Reshape Consumer Choices as Trust Shifts to Foreign Brands
Chart 20 Kendamil Challenges Special Milk Formula with High Quality Basics
Chart 21 Value Sales 2021-2031
Chart 22 Value Sales by Category 2026
More Parents Likely to Shift to Natural Feeding, While Milk Formula Set to Sustain Value Growth
Convenient Snacks and Daily Routines to Drive Fastest Growth in Complementary Foods
Cutbacks to Subsidies and Distrust in Institutions Threaten Growth Opportunities
Chart 23 Analyst Insight for Baby Food
Chart 24 Forecast Value Sales 2021-2031
Chart 25 Forecast Value Sales by Category 2026-2031
Kendamil Surpasses Legacy Leaders as Private Label Accelerates
Chart 26 Company Shares 2026
Chart 27 Brand Shares 2026
Hypermarkets and Supermarkets Secure Lead as Convenience Shapes Demand
Warehouse Clubs and Retail E-Commerce Accelerate Growth as Shoppers Seek Value
Chart 28 Retail Channels 2021-2026
Clean Label and Simple-Ingredient Formulations Spur Product Development
Stage-Specific Snacking and Reformulated Basics Lead Recent Launches
Chart 29 Australian Brand Little Bellies Leans into the Power of Imported Brand Health Halo and Snacking Trend
Product Innovation Reorients Competitive Advantage around Trust
Chart 30 Economic Context for Baby Food
Chart 31 Real Gdp Growth 2021-2031
Chart 32 Inflation 2021-2031
Chart 33 Consumer Context for Baby Food
Chart 34 Population 2021-2031
Chart 35 Population by Generation 2026
Chart 36 Consumer Expenditure 2021-2031
Butter and Spreads in the US
Key Data Insights
Butter and Spreads Summary
Chart 37 Key Industry Trends for Butter and Spreads
Butter and Spreads Remains Resilient Despite Wider Economic Uncertainty
Butter Maintains Its Lead, While Players in Margarine and Spreads Seek to Bridge a Perceived Gap
Lifeway Leverages Functional Indulgence to Win Premium Buyers
Chart 38 Lifeway's Functionally Indulgent Kefir Butter
Chart 39 Value Sales 2021-2031
Chart 40 Value Sales by Category 2026
Consumers Likely to Prioritise Indulgence as Butter Set to Outpace Other Categories
Premiumisation and Innovation to Drive Tangible Value Amid Cost Pressures
Chart 41 Forecast Value Sales 2021-2031
Chart 42 Forecast Value Sales by Category 2026-2031
Kerrygold Sustains Growth as Land O' Lakes and Private Label Maintain Lead
Chart 43 Company Shares 2026
Chart 44 Brand Shares 2026
Supermarkets Edges Ahead as Cold Chain Advances Maintain a High Share for E-Commerce
Chart 45 Retail Channels 2021-2026
Functional Claims Reshape the Innovation Agenda
New Launches Blur the Line between Dairy Butter and Alternatives
Chart 46 Upfield Improves Affordable Butter Alternatives
Innovation Redefines Competitive Positioning
Chart 47 Economic Context for Butter and Spreads
Chart 48 Real Gdp Growth 2021-2031
Chart 49 Inflation 2021-2031
Chart 50 Consumer Context for Butter and Spreads
Chart 51 Population 2021-2031
Chart 52 Population by Generation 2026
Chart 53 Consumer Expenditure 2021-2031
Cheese in the US
Key Data Insights
Cheese Summary
Chart 54 Key Industry Trends for Cheese
Stability Despite Pressures as Consumers Turn to Minimally Processed Cheese
Hard Cheese Leads Sales and Growth, While Mozzarella Outperforms Amid Shifting Preferences
Babybel and Kraft Drive Functional Snacking through Innovation and Accessibility
Chart 55 Kraft Natural Doubles Down on Value with Affordable Big Protein Cheese Sticks in Two Varieties
Lactose-Free Philadelphia Opens Cream Cheese to New Consumers
Chart 56 Philadelphia Cream Cheese Brings New Lactose-Free Innovation to Market
Chart 57 Value Sales 2021-2031
Chart 58 Value Sales by Category 2026
Private Label to Leverage Consumer Price Sensitivity to Sustain Demand
Hard Cheese Expected to Maintain Its Lead While Soft Cheese Set to Grow
Wellness Innovation and Premiumisation Set to Reshape Product Development
Chart 59 Analyst Insight for Cheese
Chart 60 Forecast Value Sales 2021-2031
Chart 61 Forecast Value Sales by Category 2026-2031
Kraft Heinz Preserves Its Advantage as Smaller Brands Expand Their Presence
Chart 62 Company Shares 2026
Chart 63 Brand Shares 2026
Supermarkets and Hypermarkets Reinforce Private Label Lead through Stability
Online Platforms Empower Small-Batch Producers to Reach New Audiences
Chart 64 Retail Channels 2021-2026
Convenience and Wellness Claims Steer the Innovation Pipeline
New Formats Reimagine the Cheese Snack
Innovation Intensifies Rivalry and Redraws Category Boundaries
Chart 65 Economic Context for Cheese
Chart 66 Real Gdp Growth 2021-2031
Chart 67 Inflation 2021-2031
Chart 68 Consumer Context for Cheese
Chart 69 Population 2021-2031
Chart 70 Population by Generation 2026
Chart 71 Consumer Expenditure 2021-2031
Drinking Milk Products in the US
Key Data Insights
Drinking Milk Products Summary
Chart 72 Key Industry Trends for Drinking Milk Products
Population Growth and Rising Household Purchasing Power Drive Continued Rise in Sales
Nurri Capitalises on Shifting Dairy Sentiment as Whole Milk Makes a Return
Chart 73 Nurri Launches New Full Fat Drinking Milk Option at Walmart
Organic Valley Sets the Pace in Us Drinking Milk Products with Lactose-Free Innovation
Chart 74 Organic Valley's New Lactose-Free Drinking Milks
Chart 75 Value Sales 2021-2031
Chart 76 Value Sales by Category 2026
Rising Demand for Full Fat and High Protein Milk to Shift Consumer Choices
Fairlife to Leverage Functional Claims to Attract Health-Focused Buyers
Chart 77 Analyst Insight for Drinking Milk Products
Chart 78 Forecast Value Sales 2021-2031
Chart 79 Forecast Value Sales by Category 2026-2031
Private Label Sustains Dominance as Hood and Fairlife Defend Share
Chart 80 Company Shares 2026
Chart 81 Brand Shares 2026
Supermarkets Maintains Its Lead While E-Commerce Accelerates Digital Shift
Chart 82 Retail Channels 2021-2026
Protein Fortification and Sugar Reduction Steer Product Development
Ultra-Filtered and Flavoured Formats Expand the Category
Value-Added Innovation Reshapes Competitive and Pricing Dynamics
Chart 83 Economic Context for Drinking Milk Products
Chart 84 Real Gdp Growth 2021-2031
Chart 85 Inflation 2021-2031
Chart 86 Consumer Context for Drinking Milk Products
Chart 87 Population 2021-2031
Chart 88 Population by Generation 2026
Chart 89 Consumer Expenditure 2021-2031
Yoghurt and Sour Milk Products in the US
Key Data Insights
Yoghurt and Sour Milk Products Summary
Chart 90 Key Industry Trends for Yoghurt and Sour Milk Products
Solid Growth as Brands Enhance Value, and Demographic and Economic Trends Are Positive
Chobani and Danone Intensify Protein Claims as Consumers Seek Value
Chart 91 Consumers Trade Down and Look for Value, Pushing Competitors to Adapt
Lifeway Brings Creatine Innovation to Fill Functional White Space
Chart 92 Beyond Protein, Lifeway Seeks to Add Functionality through Creatine
Chart 93 Value Sales 2021-2031
Chart 94 Value Sales by Category 2026
Glp-1 Adoption and Ingredient Flexibility Set to Boost Demand for Yoghurt
Input Cost Variability and Health Claims to Shape Business Strategies
Chart 95 Analyst Insight for Yoghurt and Sour Milk Products
Chart 96 Forecast Value Sales 2021-2031
Chart 97 Forecast Value Sales by Category 2026-2031
Danone and Chobani Defend Leadership as Share Gap Narrows
Lifeway and Icelandic Skyr Drive Functional and Premium Innovation
Chart 98 Company Shares 2026
Chart 99 Brand Shares 2026
Supermarkets Sustains Its Dominance as Retail E-Commerce Narrows the Gap
Warehouse Clubs and Discounters Gain Momentum as Consumers Seek Value
Chart 100 Retail Channels 2021-2026
Flavour, Format and Gut Health Lead the Innovation Agenda
Drinkable Formats and Functional Variants Illustrate Recent Launches
Differentiation Protects Margins as the Category Risks Commoditisation
Chart 101 Economic Context for Yoghurt and Sour Milk Products
Chart 102 Real Gdp Growth 2021-2031
Chart 103 Inflation 2021-2031
Chart 104 Consumer Context for Yoghurt and Sour Milk Products
Chart 105 Population 2021-2031
Chart 106 Population by Generation 2026
Chart 107 Consumer Expenditure 2021-2031
Other Dairy in the US
Key Data Insights
Other Dairy Summary
Chart 108 Key Industry Trends for Other Dairy
Knudsen Drives High-Protein Growth as Demand Surges for Functional Nutrition
Chart 109 Knudsen's Cottage Cheese Grows Significantly in 2026
Social Media Recipes Accelerate Sales of Condensed Milk and Cottage Cheese
Chart 110 Dairy-Based Tiktok Recipes Combine Flavour, Functionality and Nutrition
Chart 111 Value Sales 2021-2031
Chart 112 Value Sales by Category 2026
Glp-1 Use to Shift Snacking to Smaller Portions and Protein-Rich Options
Coffee Whiteners Expected to Retain Leadership and Drive Growth
Cream and Condensed Milk Set to Gain From Recipe Innovation and Indulgence
Chart 113 Forecast Value Sales 2021-2031
Chart 114 Forecast Value Sales by Category 2026-2031
Nestlé Usa Inc Leverages Healthy Branding to Defend Its Leading Share
Chart 115 Company Shares 2026
Chart 116 Brand Shares 2026
Supermarkets and Hypermarkets Maintain Their Lead as E-Commerce Rises
Chart 117 Retail Channels 2021-2026
Clean Label Reformulation and Format Diversification Lead Product Development
Savoury Variants and Functional Reformulation Broaden Product Ranges
Innovation Pipelines Refocus as Brands Chase Functional Credentials
Chart 118 Economic Context for Other Dairy
Chart 119 Real Gdp Growth 2021-2031
Chart 120 Inflation 2021-2031
Chart 121 Consumer Context for Other Dairy
Chart 122 Population 2021-2031
Chart 123 Population by Generation 2026
Chart 124 Consumer Expenditure 2021-2031
Plant-Based Dairy in the US
Key Data Insights
Plant-Based Dairy Summary
Chart 125 Key Industry Trends for Plant-Based Dairy
Califia Farms Shifts Strategy with Clean-Label Innovation to Regain Consumer Trust
Chart 126 Califia Farms Grows Simple & Organic Line with Clean Label to Combat Plant-Based Retreat
Plant-Based Milk Dominates, but Declines as Consumers Shift Back to Traditional Dairy Milk
Benexia Leverages Natural Ingredients to Challenge Traditional Dairy Resurgence
Chart 127 Seeds of Wellness Launches Chia Milk with Health at the Forefront
Chart 128 Value Sales 2021-2031
Chart 129 Value Sales by Category 2026
Oat and Coconut Launches Expected to Help Offset the Prolonged Decline in Sales
Regulatory Labelling Will Prompt Shift to Clean-Label Innovation
Chart 130 Analyst Insight for Plant-Based Dairy
Chart 131 Forecast Value Sales 2021-2031
Chart 132 Forecast Value Sales by Category 2026-2031
Danone North America Consolidates Its Lead While Califia Farms Doubles Its Share
Chart 133 Company Shares 2026
Chart 134 Brand Shares 2026
Walmart Expands Its Private Label Lines to Drive Sku Diversity
Retail E-Commerce Accelerates as Consumers Seek Information and Range
Chart 135 Retail Channels 2021-2026
From Price Competition to Health Narratives
New Entrants and Reformulations Raise the Bar
Califia Farms Outpaces Rivals as Consolidation and Innovation Reshape the Competition
Chart 136 Economic Context for Plant-Based Dairy
Chart 137 Real Gdp Growth 2021-2031
Chart 138 Inflation 2021-2031
Chart 139 Consumer Context for Plant-Based Dairy
Chart 140 Population 2021-2031
Chart 141 Population by Generation 2026
Chart 142 Consumer Expenditure 2021-2031
Country Reports Disclaimer
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Dairy Products and Alternatives
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- Dried Baby Food
- Prepared Baby Food
- Other Baby Food
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- Liquid Standard Milk Formula
- Powder Standard Milk Formula
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- Liquid Follow-on Milk Formula
- Powder Follow-on Milk Formula
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- Liquid Growing-Up Milk Formula
- Powder Growing-Up Milk Formula
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- Liquid Special Baby Milk Formula
- Powder Special Baby Milk Formula
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- Butter
- Cooking Fats
- Margarine and Spreads
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- Spreadable Cheese
- Processed Cheese excl Spreadable
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- Packaged Hard Cheese
- Unpackaged Hard Cheese
- Soft Cheese
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- Dairy Only Flavoured Milk Drinks
- Flavoured Milk Drinks with Fruit Juice
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- Fat-free Fresh Milk
- Semi Skimmed Fresh Milk
- Full Fat Fresh Milk
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- Fat-free Shelf Stable Milk
- Semi Skimmed Shelf Stable Milk
- Full Fat Shelf Stable Milk
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- Goat Milk
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- Powder Milk
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- Sour Milk Products
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- Drinking Yoghurt
- Flavoured Yoghurt
- Plain Yoghurt
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- Chilled Dairy Desserts
- Shelf Stable Dairy Desserts
- Chilled Snacks
- Coffee Whiteners
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- Flavoured Condensed Milk
- Plain Condensed Milk
- Evaporated Milk
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- Cream
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- Flavoured Fromage Frais and Quark
- Plain Fromage Frais and Quark
- Savoury Fromage Frais and Quark
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- Soy Drinks
- Other Plant-based Milk
- Plant-based Yoghurt
- Plant-based Cheese
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This report originates from Passport, our Dairy Products and Alternatives research and analysis database.
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