The bottles and cartons may look serene in the grocery store aisles, but dairy wars are happening behind the scenes as companies compete for your attention and money. You have probably seen regular, soy, almond, oat, pea and other milk products line the shelves. Now, banana milk is growing in popularity. Jeff Richards, the founder and CEO of Mooala, shared more information about banana milk in an interview.
Milk From Bananas
Mooalamakes dairy-free, organic beverages with plant-based ingredients, such as banana, almond and oat milk. Its best-selling product is the original banana milk, which is nut-free, dairy-free and made from six ingredients.
“Back in 2012, I was diagnosed with lactose intolerance and had to make the switch to dairy-free products. There was a real need in the marketplace for organic, plant-based milk alternatives made from real ingredients. I started with bananas because they are Americans’ favorite fruit, an incredible bang for the buck nutritionally, and most importantly, they are free of the top eight allergens,” Richards said.
Richards had a mild nut allergy, but making banana milk taste good was a challenge because water and mashed bananas did not work. He mixed test batches in his kitchen until he found a recipe he liked.
“I took the recipe to the University of Minnesota to make sure it was something that could be commercially produced. Through a unique batching and cooking process, we were able to achieve a rich, creamy flavor. The creaminess of the bananas and sunflower seeds with a hint of cinnamon really gives the product an awesome banana bread taste while containing just 3 grams of sugar and 60 calories per serving,” Richards said.
Bananas and the Environment
“Bananas are excellent for anyone who cares about their carbon footprint. They are grown in natural sunlight, there is hardly any packaging, and they keep well. At Mooala, we source all of our organic bananas from suppliers who focus on sustainability, responsible sourcing and social responsibility. We also donate a portion of all sales to nonprofit microfinance organizations in impoverished countries,” Richards said.
Richards is not worried about bananas going extinctfrom Panama disease. He points out that this is not the first-time bananas have encountered fungus problems.
“There are many great research and development teams at work right now looking to either modify the Cavendish banana or to find the right fungicide to end the current problem. Colombian farms are working diligently to contain the affected crops as well. As with any potential supply issue, including the California droughts and the impact on almond farming earlier this decade, we are concerned but remain optimistic that a positive solution will result with so many people focused on addressing the problem,” Richards added.
Plant-Based Industry Growth
The dairy-alternative industry focuses on dietary restrictions and animal welfare concerns. At first, the available selection of plant-based milk alternatives was limited and either loaded with sugar or questionable fillers like carrageenan. Today, the plant-based industry has grown, and there are more options for consumers.
“Plant-based milk alternatives have delivered a little bit of fun back to a dairy aisle that has seen little excitement for generations. So far, sales are solid in the competitive and crowded dairy aisle. In fact, last year Mooala tripled its sales and expects to double again this year, making it one of the fastest among newcomers to the alternative-milk category,” Richards said.
Although he hears the arguments about cow milk versus plant-based milk often, Richards thinks the two will coexist long-term. Mooala’s internal studies show that over 70% of consumers are purchasing one of its products in addition to another milk in the dairy aisle. Many Americans are buying both plant-based and dairy milk. Richards expects the plant-based industry to continue to grow.
Source: forbes.com
