Dairy
Dairy had yet another great year, reporting double-digit
growth compared to 2018, both in terms of volumes
and operating profit. All regions, North Latin America,
South Latin America, the US, and Europe in particular,
contributed with positive results.
Solutions
We provide the whole dairy and ice cream segment with
solutions ranging from cheese, whipped toppings and
yellow fats to fermented milk products, milk drink, and
coffee whitener. During 2019, we saw a great increase
in sales of speciality and semi-speciality solutions.
Trends
The major dairy trends are healthy, sustainable and
more cost-effective solutions. The dairy industry is also
very much impacted by the rise of flexitarians, generating
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a need to develop solutions for plant-based dairy
products.
New products
Through our co-development approach, our Customer
Innovation team has developed a variety of new
products around the AAK world, resulting in yet another
record year.
Future growth
By maintaining our strong focus on speciality and
semi-speciality solutions, our Dairy segment is expected
to continue its growth journey.
Plant-based Foods
2019 was a record year for Plant-based Foods, with the
plant-based meat category being a significant contributor
to the positive results. The growth was mainly
driven by the US and Europe, but with good help from
South Latin America and Asia.
Solutions
We offer solutions for all major sub-segments
within Plant-based Foods, be it plant-based
burgers, sausages, frozen desserts, cheese, milk
drinks, whipped toppings, or fermented products.
The segment’s primary products are all part of our
AkoPlanet™ range and specifically designed and
proven for each application.
Trends
The main trends supporting the market are health,
sustainability, and a lifestyle where the “Instagram
ability” of foods is of critical importance for today’s
conscious consumers, increasingly defining themselves
as flexitarians.
New products
The launch of our umbrella brand AkoPlanet™ in June
2019 was very successful. AkoPlanet™ consists of our
proven solutions for the segment of plant-based foods,
and the range is our foundation for developing specific
solutions by using our co-development approach. Our
pipeline of customer co-development projects has
quadrupled since launch.
Future growth
Led by the rise of flexitarians, a healthier lifestyle, and
the younger generations’ desire to ensure a planet for
their children, the plant-based segment is expected to
continue its growth journey.
Special Nutrition
Special Nutrition reported profit growth in 2019. This
was particularly driven by high-end solutions within
sub
segment Infant Nutrition.
Solutions
AAK provides tailor-made speciality lipids solutions for
Infant, Senior, and Medical Nutrition.
Trends
The global trends that are driving AAK’s Special
Nutrition segment are health, trust, sustainability,
premiumization, and personalization.