Alpro Launches Low-Sugar Plant-Based Milk & Yoghurt Range for Kids

Danone-owned plant-based dairy leader Alpro has introduced a new range for kids in the UK, starting with low-sugar milk and yoghurt alternatives.

Alpro is looking to expand its customer base with a new range dedicated to children, at a time when kids’ nutrition is under the microscope in the UK.

The new Alpro Kids range comprises chocolate oat milk, strawberry soy milk, and vanilla and strawberry soy yoghurts, which contain 30% less sugar than the market average for similar products, according to the brand.

“We are proud to be offering healthy and nutritious options for every member of the family,” said Tom Kerr, head of the plant-based category at Danone. “With ‘flexitarian’ diets continuing to be popular across households, the new product range is a tasty way to help parents introduce their children to new foods. It’s a deliciously smart way to start the day.”

The move comes a week after the UK government and supermarkets established a new healthy food standard to make the average shopping basket more healthful and contribute to developing “the healthiest generation of children ever”.

Alpro hits on key nutrients with kids’ range

The launch is a direct response to parental concerns around healthy eating, according to Alpro, which cited research from Quant that showed ‘less sugar’ and ‘no added sugars’ are important nutritional benefits in products for 71% of parents. Government data shows that 91% of children exceed the daily recommended intake of added sugar, with the average calorie share twice as high as advised.

The Quant survey found that 77% see taste as the top priority for kids’ snacks. Leveraging that insight, Alpro taste-tested all its recipes for the new milks and yoghurts to ensure appeal.

“Parents face the challenge of finding foods that are both nutritious and appealing to their children on a daily basis,” said Kerr. “Our new Alpro Kids range addresses this dilemma by offering genuinely delicious plant-based options that kids love, providing a source of essential nutrients for healthy growth – all with less sugar than comparable products.”

The new lineup is fortified with calcium, iodine, and vitamins B2, B12 and D2. They’re also low in fat and saturated fat (which 85% of British children overconsume), and contain no artificial flavourings, preservatives or colourings.

Plus, the yoghurts represent Danone’s focus on fibre and gut health, two increasingly popular health topics in the UK’s food discourse. Over 60% of the company’s dairy and plant-based sales come from products in functional segments like immunity, gut health, indulgence and performance. It will look to expand this in a country where 86% of children fail to meet their daily recommended fibre intake.

The launch comes shortly after a recent review of 27 studies found that vegan diets can support healthy growth in children when planned well and supplemented with the right nutrients.

Danone expands plant-based portfolio for kids

Around one in 10 Brits suffer from lactose intolerance, while 2-3% are allergic to dairy. And as of 2021, 8% of children in the country followed a plant-based diet, underscoring the opportunity for products like Alpro’s new milks and yoghurts.

The non-dairy milks are available in 200ml cartons for £0.90 (or £1.50 for two), while the vegan yoghurts come in four-packs of 115g pots for £2.25. This is on par with other health-forward kids’ products in the UK, and will appeal to the 84% of parents who say good nutrition is a top factor in deciding what to feed their children, as well as the 56% who cite price and affordability.

The Alpro Kids range is available at Asda now and will roll out at Tesco on July 23, followed by an expansion into Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and other major supermarkets in September.

In the UK, sales of plant-based milk fell by 2.3% in 2024, while non-dairy yoghurts jumped by 6.7%. And unlike most of Europe, branded products were more resilient than private-label options: sales of the former declined by 3%, compared to a 12% decline for the latter, so new launches like Alpro’s do have room to succeed.

This range complements Alpro’s portfolio for the next generation, which includes oat and soy milks under the Growing Up label. It’s part of a wider trend of plant-based launches for babies and children over the last year.

Potina, founded by a former Alpro employee, introduced banana oat milks for kids in the UK last year, while Grow with Iris released a free-from plant-based milk for toddlers. Across the Atlantic, Califia Farms brought out its Complete Kids Plantmilk, Koia launched three oat milkshakes for kids, and Silk (owned by Danone) rolled out an oat and pea milk blend for children.

Danone has also made moves in the plant-based infant nutrition sector. In 2023, Danone signed a letter of intent to license Canadian firm Else Nutrition’s vegan formula under its own branding, though there has been no public update since. And this month, it completed its acquisition of plant-based nutrition brand Kate Farms.