Tetra Pak predicts growth in ambient milk market

In its biannual review of the global dairy market, the Dairy Index, Tetra Pak predicted ambient milk sales would increase by 0.6% this year compared to chilled milk, which it said would decrease by 2%.

Tetra Pak president and chief executive Dennis Jönsson highlighted that ambient milk sales had grown in developed markets such as the US, where flavoured milk consumption had grown 0.7% between 2006 and 2009.

He said: “Even in developed markets, we see ambient is growing and offers new opportunities.”

Ambient milk can last for between four to nine months compared to chilled milk, which can last around five to 12 days in a fridge.

The UK market has traditionally favoured chilled milk as 89.5% drink chilled compared to the 10.5% that drink ambient.

Soy milk, meanwhile, has been affected by the recession. “We expect it to come back in the coming years,” said Jönsson.

Tetra Pak has also launched the Tetra Therm Aseptic Visco high-pressure unit for high-capacity UHT treatment for soups, sauces, tomato pastes, custard desserts, fruit preparations, vegetable purees and baby food.

Tetra Pak has forecast that liquid dairy product comsumption is expected to reach 263 billion litres in 2009 – up from 259 billion litres in 2008.

Click here for today’s headlines from across the packaging industry

Popular Articles