BETTER FOR THE PLANET, BETTER FOR YOU

As far as nutrition goes, organically farmed cow’s milk is said to have a higher concentration of vitamin E, iron and an improved ratio of omega-3 (which has antiinflammatory properties) and omega-6, said to be good for heart health. Cattle that consume more grass also produce milk with a higher amount of protein. These slower, more natural farming practices, that in many ways mark a return to preindustrial farming are obviously not suitable for mass production.

But that’s the point. Dairy is best consumed in moderation, to enjoy its health benefits. Too much consumption can have an adverse effect on health. And that’s true for the planet too. Much of the rejection of cow’s milk has centred on the fact that consumers have begun to reject industrialised farming, from opting for organic products, to rejecting battery henproduced eggs.

The rise of slower, more ethically produced cows milk seems to hold the answer then, for consumers looking to do good for the planet, while consuming products with the most functional benefits. And in a parallel to the drinks industry at large, more enlightened thinking about the role diary should have in our diets, means that consuming less, but consuming better quality looks to be the future. So, move over plant-based milks, cows milk may be set to make a very slow, very steady and incredibly ethical comeback.

strengths of plant-based milks has been their ability to convey to consumers their individual health benefits. And that’s largely come down to strong work by creative branding design agencies and bold, playful pack design that feels compelling, without being preachy. The challenge for emerging ethical dairy brands is to convey their free-range credentials and their benefits, in a clear, appealing way entirely separate in visual identity from both plant-based products and less ethical dairy, while also embracing eco-materials. Anything less, risks being lost among the flurry of yet more

However, health credentials alone are not enough. One of the

A CATEGORY ABOUT TO HEAT UP?

Comforting and indulgent, hot chocolate has hardly bothered with innovation and trend chasing; well, if it ain’t broke… However, as consumer interest in the category heats up, we ask, isn’t it time drinks makers shook things up a little?

When was the last time you made yourself a comforting cup of smooth chocolatey goodness? When it was winter? At Christmas? Or - with hard-tofollow instructions to turn into something palatable - never?

Delicious though hot chocolate can be, it’s a category that has arguably been overlooked and overshadowed in recent years, as calorie conscious consumers opt for functional drinks such as coffee and tea when seeking out a hot beverage.

With strong seasonal associations, it’s a drink that has struggled to break out of its key winter-consumption occasion. And what’s more, at-home products have always had something of a quality issue. That is to say the expectation of a rich, velvety, comforting drink, is often dashed as products fail to mix properly, quantities of milk or water added to the mix are hard to judge and somehow products never quite seem to match the hot chocolates enjoyed out-of-home.