23 Jun 2024 Milka chocolate milk launched in Europe
European dairy cooperative Arla Foods recently entered into a licensing agreement with US confectionary giant Mondelēz International…
Combining Arla’s experience in dairy innovation with Milka’s brand recognition and consumer acceptance, Arla will produce, distribute and market Milka chocolate milk in Germany, Austria and Poland.
This new agreement will allow consumers to taste Milka’s signature flavour in liquid form in the three countries where the chocolate brand is a leading player.
The chocolate milk is planned to launch this month and will be available in three different flavours and packaging sizes. Production will occur at an Arla Foods facility in Esbjerg, Denmark.
Dairy meets chocolate
Christian Fischer, senior vice president for milk-based beverages at Arla Foods, says, “This launch helps Arla diversify its product portfolio and tap into the growing demand for convenient, ready-to-drink flavoured milk options.
“This is in line with Arla Foods Future 26 strategy, where the milk-based beverages business has been selected to create future growth for our farmer owners.”
The dairy cooperative has selected popular flavours to deliver a familiar experience to consumers.
“When it comes to chocolate milk, we also learned that consumers often don’t find the same level of indulgence that they find in other snacks or drinks. By adding real Milka chocolate into our products, we believe that we´ve managed to create the right offering for indulgence fans,” explains Fischer.
Mondelēz International owns Milka and has had several notable licensing partnerships in categories such as ice cream and baked goods.
Since indulgence is a defining feature of the milk-based beverage segment, a similar ethos underscores this new offering from the company. “Consumers look for things to look forward to and ways to have fun. At the same time, when budgets are under pressure, the need for value is accentuated: premium food and drink offerings are ideal as (relatively) affordable treats,” Fischer reveals.
Sustainability measures
Dairy and chocolate players are responding to calls for better sustainability efforts, whether it is reducing on-farm carbon emissions, innovating sugar-reduced products or adopting more environment-friendly product packaging.
Highlighting sustainability initiatives integral to the production of Milka chocolate milk, Fischer says: “We are currently using recycled PET in our bottles, 50% of which is currently recycled, and we are planning to increase the content to 100% soon.”
“All PET bottles are included in the deposit return scheme in Germany, and tethered caps have been applied. On the product side, we are living up to our internal milk-based beverages health guidelines with a maximum of 6 g added sugar per 100 mL of product.”
Source: Food Ingredients First