Dairy products and alternatives in 2025: The big picture
Value sales of dairy products and alternatives in Croatia maintain a positive trajectory in 2025, with volume sales also showing small positive growth. This performance is supported by two dominant trends: the growing demand for health-focussed products, and the expansion of private label.
Key trends in 2025
In addition to health-driven demand and private label growth, several other key trends are shaping Croatia’s dairy market in 2025. On-the-go consumption continues to grow, with brands responding by launching portable, protein-rich products suited to fast-paced urban lifestyles. For example, overall leading brand Dukat (Dukat dd) launched a new high-protein chocolate milk with guarana, while Vindija (Vindija dd) introduced “Z Bregov Super Kefir,” enriched with probiotics and vitamins A, D3, and E, targeting consumers seeking energy, immunity, and digestive benefits.
Competitive landscape
Dukat dd is the leading company in dairy products and alternatives in Croatia, with a healthy lead on second-placed Vindija dd. The namesake Dukat brand also holds overall leading brand place, as well as leading butter and spreads, drinking milk products, and yoghurt and sour milk products. The player’s portfolio also includes other popular brands such as Président (which leads cheese and is present on other dairy), Sirela (in cheese), Dukatela (in cheese), b.Aktiv (in yoghurt and sour milk products), Dukatino (in other dairy), Galbani (in cheese), and Lactel (in drinking milk products).
Channel developments
Supermarkets is the leading distribution channel for dairy products and alternatives in Croatia, with its share almost twice as large as the second-biggest channel of hypermarkets. The strength of supermarkets lies in the channel’s wide product availability, trusted brands, and competitive private label ranges. However, the channel has come under pressure due to continuing Sunday trading restrictions and a consumer boycott in early 2025, which targeted major retailers, including Konzum, over rising food prices. The boycott, which gained national attention, led to a temporary drop in store traffic and prompted several large supermarket chains to reduce prices on key products, including dairy, to restore public confidence. Despite these challenges, new tools like the Košarica app, which helps consumers find open supermarkets on Sundays, have helped sustain access and supported the channel’s overall strong performance.
What next for dairy products and alternatives?
Value sales of dairy products and alternatives will maintain positive growth over the forecast period. This growth will be driven by the continued premiumisation of dairy offerings, increasing demand for functional products such as lactose-free milk, high-protein yogurts, and probiotic-rich items, as well as the gradual expansion of plant-based alternatives. Additionally, tourism will continue to fuel demand for convenient, single-serve, and premium dairy products, especially during the summer months, contributing to higher value sales within this context.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Dairy Products and Alternatives industry in Croatia 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 Croatia, 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 Croatia 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 Croatia?
- Which are the leading brands in Dairy Products and Alternatives in Croatia?
- How are products distributed in Dairy Products and Alternatives in Croatia?
- 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 Croatia?
- 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 Croatia
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 Croatia
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Positive value growth supported by high prices, with baseline demand holding relatively steady
Podravka maintains lead thanks to popularity of its Lino brand, while collective private label holds the largest share
Supermarkets and health and beauty retailers benefit from offering good quality products at affordable prices
Sluggish sales expected due to weak birth rates and price sensitivity
Health and wellness trends inspire fortified and organic formulations
New EU regulations come into play for baby food
Butter and Spreads in Croatia
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Positive value sales supported by high prices, while volume is flat
Zvijezda maintains lead thanks to strong portfolio in margarine and spreads, and despite industry disruptions
Supermarkets maintain lead, driven by broad assortment of products and competitive pricing
Modest growth expected due to various constraints and challenges
Health and wellness trends shape developments in butter and spreads
Government price caps include butter and lard, further influencing sales trends
Cheese in Croatia
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Cheese maintains stable sales due to continued consumer demand
Dukat maintains its lead in cheese, thanks to strong portfolio of popular products
Supermarkets remain the most popular outlets for cheese
Ongoing sales will be supported by baseline demand
Health and wellness trends drive developments in cheese
Government price caps affect cheese
Drinking Milk Products in Croatia
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Drinking milk products maintains positive sales, supported by higher prices of rising categories, while cow’s milk remains a staple
Dukat maintains lead, while Vindija sees strongest growth thanks to innovative launches and environmental positioning
Supermarkets remain the most popular shops, thanks to convenience, affordability and a wide range of options
Ongoing positive sales expected, driven by both baseline demand and innovation in functional options
Health and wellness trends drive innovations in “better-for-you” products
Price caps on milk set to influence ongoing sales trends
Yoghurt and Sour Milk Products in Croatia
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Yoghurt and sour milk products maintains positive value and volume sales, thanks to rising popularity of health-focussed options
Dukat maintains lead, while Vindija benefits from health-focussed product launches
Supermarkets remain the most popular outlets for yoghurt and sour milk products
Ongoing positive growth due to baseline demand and health-focussed innovations
Health and wellness trends prove to be powerful growth drivers
Goat’s milk-based yoghurt and sour milk products expected to remain popular
Other Dairy in Croatia
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Other dairy maintains a stable and positive trajectory thanks to catering to indulgence and convenience
Dukat maintains its strong lead thanks to robust consumer loyalty, while private labels benefit from being low-cost, good-quality options
Supermarkets remain the most popular sales outlets for other dairy
Ongoing positive sales for other dairy, supported by offering products to suit both everyday usage and indulgent consumption
Health trends continue to emerge in other dairy, from probiotics to protein fortification
Brands will increasingly use social media to promote their products
Plant-Based Dairy in Croatia
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Plant-based dairy maintains healthy sales, despite some challenges to the category
Alpro maintains lead thanks to brand recognition, while Boom Box and Dar enjoy strong growth
Supermarkets maintain strongest sales, with hypermarkets and convenience stores also popular
Great growth potential remaining for other dairy as the category develops further
Health, wellness, and eco-conscious trends are key drivers for innovation and adoption
Plant-based cheese expected to become more established over the coming years
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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