EUROPE – Nestlé has rolled out a plant-based alternative of its Nesquik chocolate milk drink in Europe, made from a combination of oats and peas with sustainably-sourced cocoa following the introduction of Nesquik GoodNes in the US this January, which is also based on oats and peas.

The new ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage will be launched first in Spain, Portugal and Hungary followed by other European countries. It will feature a different name depending on the market.

“What better way to bring more plant-based products into people’s everyday lives than with much-loved brands like Nesquik. We’re really proud of this new drink – it really hits the spot with that familiar Nesquik cocoa taste,” Yasser AbdulMalak, head of dairy products for Europe, Middle East and North Africa at Nestlé, said.

“More and more people are looking for tasty and nutritious plant-based options. That is why we are adding them to our global line-up through some of our most trusted brands such as Nesquik, Milo, and Ninho.”

Mayank Trivedi – head of the dairy strategic business unit, Nestlé

With 100% natural ingredients, the new beverage is naturally lactose free and certified by the Vegan Society. According to Nestlé, it is lower in sugar than regular milk-based Nesquik.

The new launch marks another step in its expansion of dairy alternatives, following the first alternative for children earlier this year under its Ninho brand in Brazil.

Nestlé currently offers a variety of plant-based beverages made from rice, oat, soy, coconut and almonds including a vegan Carnation condensed milk, a vegan-friendly Milo and Starbucks non-dairy creamers.

“More and more people are looking for tasty and nutritious plant-based options. That is why we are adding them to our global line-up through some of our most trusted brands such as Nesquik, Milo, and Ninho. There is more to come, so watch this space,” said Mayank Trivedi, head of the dairy strategic business unit at Nestlé.

According to Oatly’s former U.K. head David Peters wrote in a piece for Vegconomist, consumers have become enamored by the taste, similarity to dairy milk, health halo and sustainability features of oat milk.

The beverage made from the popular grain can foam and mix like dairy milk, and proponents say it is the most sustainable dairy alternative. Switching from cow’s milk to oat milk can save up to 73% of carbon dioxide emissions, and oats are a sustainable crop that aren’t associated with deforestation or excessive need for water,

This week, Nestlé also announced the inauguration of a new R&D accelerator programme at its Konolfingen centre, where start-ups, students and scientists can leverage the company’s dairy and plant protein expertise to bring innovative products to consumers.

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