Dairy products and alternatives in 2025: The big picture
Dairy products and alternatives in Cameroon is expected to register modest current value growth in 2025, though volume growth is expected to more muted. Powder milk continues to be Cameroon’s most popular dairy product. It is a staple and is added to hot drinks, such as malt-based or chocolate drinks like Ovaltine and Matinal. Additionally, its affordability and widespread availability further enhances its appeal. However, yoghurt is expected to be the strongest performer in terms of volume growth in 2025. Yoghurt has transitioned from a premium product to a widely accessible staple, thanks to local manufacturing that has lowered retail prices.
Key trends in 2025
With consumers remaining price sensitive, after several years of steep price hikes, brands are recalibrating packaging strategies to maintain affordability. Single-serve and pouch formats have emerged as critical adaptations in 2025. Nestlé increased production of its 16g Nido pouch, though some consumers voiced concerns over reduced quality. Local manufacturer SOTICAM also ramped up production of its 200g yoghurt offering Dollait Lait Caillé. In addition, Camfood introduced a 40g sachet of Vallée d’Or margarine, offering a hygienic alternative to sales by the spoonful, a popular habit in Cameroon. These developments reflect the growing demand for affordable, portable, and hygienic dairy formats suited to snacking and mobile consumption.
Competitive Landscape
Nestlé continues to lead the competitive landscape, largely due to its significant foothold in powder milk, though it is also a significant player in other dairy offerings such as infant cereal. Its 5,500-tonne capacity factory in Bonaberi for production of powder milk is unmatched by any other player. Nestlé is now focusing on fortification as its next strategy for driving growth across its portfolio. An example is its above mentioned Nido FortiCroissance Fortigrow, which is low in fat and also contains iron, Vitamins B9, B12, calcium and Vitamin D. That being said, the company is suffering reputational damage in the powder milk segment as consumers accuse Nestlé of tampering with the quality of its flagship brand, Nido. Some consumers even commented on the company’s Facebook page, saying that the powder milk resembled powdered maize/cornflour.
Channel developments
Small local grocers continue to dominate distribution, accounting for over half of value sales. Such outlets are popular among lower-income consumers, where they can buy sachets of powder milk and individuals spoons of margarine. Despite hygiene concerns and unreliable cold storage, these retailers offer unmatched convenience and affordability in informal urban and rural settings. Even as formal retail grows, value-conscious buyers continue to favour small local grocers for everyday dairy purchases. However, refrigeration remains a key issue, due to frequent power outages, and as such there is limited availability of products such as butter and cheese.
What next for dairy products and alternatives?
There will be modest constant value and volume growth over the forecast period. Powder milk will continue to drive sales, with yoghurt also continuing to register healthy value growth, as it is increasingly seen as a healthy snack and affordable source of protein. Within baby food, infant cereals will also continue to account for significant value sales.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Dairy Products and Alternatives industry in Cameroon with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to a comprehensive range of core packaged food categories.
If you're in the Dairy Products and Alternatives industry in Cameroon, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Dairy Products and Alternatives in Cameroon report includes:
- Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
- Detailed segmentation of international and local products
- Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Dairy Products and Alternatives in Cameroon?
- Which are the leading brands in Dairy Products and Alternatives in Cameroon?
- How are products distributed in Dairy Products and Alternatives in Cameroon?
- How is the rise of e-commerce and/or the expansion of modern grocery retail impacting traditional retail?
- What are the key health and wellness concerns driving, or challenging, sales in Dairy Products and Alternatives?
- How significant are vegan and vegetarian dietary requirements in determining sales growth in Cameroon?
- How has COVID-19 impacted consumer demand? To what extent have lockdown, home seclusion and stockpiling boosted sales? Will the longer term economic repercussions of the pandemic stimulate or suppress future growth?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
- How significant will values-based claims, such as sustainability and ethical labelling, be in supporting future growth and brand equity?
Dairy Products and Alternatives in Cameroon
Dairy products and alternatives in 2025: The big picture
Key trends in 2025
Competitive Landscape
Channel developments
What next for dairy products and alternatives?
DISCLAIMER
Baby Food in Cameroon
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Dried baby food performs well, though only marginal volume growth for milk formula
Blédina makes gains
Supermarkets gain significant value share over review period
Dried baby food continues to outperform milk formula
Key focus on nutrition
Soy-based milk formula could gain traction as cost-effective alternative to cow-based milk formula
Butter and Spreads in Cameroon
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Margarine continues to dominate
Jadida continues to lead, but local brand Vallée d’Or makes gains
Small local grocers continue to lead
Similar dynamics over forecast period
Health shift spurs demand for low-fat margarine and unsalted butter
Import-substitution push may disrupt supply, but offers long-term opportunities for local players
Cheese in Cameroon
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Minimal volume growth overall
La Vache Qui Rit maintains leadership, supported by long-established presence
Supermarkets dominate cheese distribution
Continuing growth over forecast period
Increasing focus on healthier positioning
Convenience-driven cheese formats set to surge
Drinking Milk Products in Cameroon
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Powder milk continues to dominate and drive sales
Though Nestlé continues to lead powder milk, there is increasing concern about the quality of the local manufactured offering
Local grocers continue to dominate, though supermarkets steal value share
Powdered milk to lead, while shelf stable and flavoured drinking milk see growth
Fortified and functional represents opportunity for growth
Government push to boost local milk production to reduce import reliance
Yoghurt and Sour Milk Products in Cameroon
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Yoghurt registers highest volume growth among all dairy products in 2025
SOTICAM dominates yoghurt with value pricing and wide urban reach
Supermarkets benefit from more reliable cold storage
Yoghurt shifts from premium to everyday snack
Rising health consciousness drives demand for plain yoghurt
Improved cold chain storage presents opportunities
Other Dairy in Cameroon
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Significant volume decline overall
Royal FrieslandCampina strengthens hold amid supply chain advantage and trust gap with other brands
Small local grocers continue to dominate
Modest growth driven by affordable formats and functional usage
Better-for-you variants make limited gains
Imports under pressure, with local production poised to benefit
Plant-Based Dairy in Cameroon
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Camlait's resumption a positive, with soy yoghurt leading the charge
Camlait sole competitor in plant-based dairy
Small local grocers lead distribution
Moderate growth for plant-based dairy amidst limited variety and availability
Room for adding further health benefits
Soy a promising substitute to meet deficit in cow’s milk
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Dairy Products and Alternatives
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- Dried Baby Food
- Prepared Baby Food
- Other Baby Food
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- Liquid Standard Milk Formula
- Powder Standard Milk Formula
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- Liquid Follow-on Milk Formula
- Powder Follow-on Milk Formula
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- Liquid Growing-Up Milk Formula
- Powder Growing-Up Milk Formula
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- Liquid Special Baby Milk Formula
- Powder Special Baby Milk Formula
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- Butter
- Cooking Fats
- Margarine and Spreads
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- Spreadable Cheese
- Processed Cheese excl Spreadable
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- Packaged Hard Cheese
- Unpackaged Hard Cheese
- Soft Cheese
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- Dairy Only Flavoured Milk Drinks
- Flavoured Milk Drinks with Fruit Juice
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- Fat-free Fresh Milk
- Semi Skimmed Fresh Milk
- Full Fat Fresh Milk
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- Fat-free Shelf Stable Milk
- Semi Skimmed Shelf Stable Milk
- Full Fat Shelf Stable Milk
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- Goat Milk
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- Powder Milk
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- Sour Milk Products
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- Drinking Yoghurt
- Flavoured Yoghurt
- Plain Yoghurt
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- Chilled Dairy Desserts
- Shelf Stable Dairy Desserts
- Chilled Snacks
- Coffee Whiteners
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- Flavoured Condensed Milk
- Plain Condensed Milk
- Evaporated Milk
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- Cream
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- Flavoured Fromage Frais and Quark
- Plain Fromage Frais and Quark
- Savoury Fromage Frais and Quark
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- Soy Drinks
- Other Plant-based Milk
- Plant-based Yoghurt
- Plant-based Cheese
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This report originates from Passport, our Dairy Products and Alternatives research and analysis database.
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