Dairy products and alternatives in 2025: The big picture
Dairy products and alternatives witnessed a steady rise in value sales over 2025 amid persistent inflation. Rising production costs, including higher energy prices and raw material costs, have pushed up retail prices. In baby food, value sales grew despite reduced consumption as declining birth rates led to lower demand. Nonetheless, dairy remains important in Polish cuisine, with trusted local producers offering high-quality products made from Polish milk. These producers continue to expand their ranges to meet the needs of health-conscious consumers. Snacking occasions also supported growth, as busy lifestyles drive demand for convenient and nutritious options. Private label products remain popular, offering good quality at affordable prices. In addition, plant-based alternatives gained further traction, especially among younger consumers, supported by new flavours and formats.
Key trends in 2025
Health and wellness remained a key focus of product development in 2025. Producers responded by offering more functional products, such as high-protein, low-fat, or probiotic-rich options. These innovations aligned with the growing consumer interest in foods that support overall well-being. Plant-based alternatives saw continued growth, although they remain a developing segment rather than a mainstream choice. Younger consumers are driving this trend, drawn to plant-based options for their health and environmental benefits. The growing availability of innovative products, including dairy-free cheeses, yoghurts, and drinks in new flavours and formats, is helping to expand the category’s appeal. In addition to health, sustainability continued to shape the dairy category in Poland, with brands and retailers placing greater emphasis on environmentally responsible practices. This included sourcing local ingredients, reducing packaging waste, and improving production processes to reduce environmental impact across both dairy and plant-based alternatives.
Competitive Landscape
SM Mlekpol was the leading company within dairy products and alternatives in 2025. The company produces the Laciate, Mazurski Smak and Rolmlecz brands, present in the butter and spreads and drinking milk products categories. As one of the largest and most popular dairy producers in Poland, SM Mlekpol is widely recognised for its high-quality products and strong brand heritage. Its continued success is supported by regular innovation, including the introduction of new formats and flavours that appeal to a broad range of consumers. This combination of trusted quality and product variety helps the company to maintain its leading position in the market.
Channel developments
Discounters was the leading distribution channel for dairy products and alternatives in 2025, with the channel’s value share rising during the year. The rising price of dairy products has prompted consumers to seek more affordable options, which are readily available in this channel. Discounters are particularly attractive as they not only offer competitive prices and frequent promotions but also provide a wide variety of dairy and alternative products. Consumers enjoy the chance to purchase their weekly groceries, including all the dairy items they need, in one place. Moreover, the private label products available in discounters are often cheaper than branded alternatives, without compromising on quality, making them a popular choice among budget-conscious consumers.
What next for dairy products and alternatives?
Value sales of dairy products and alternatives are set to rise steadily over the forecast period, supported by the strong popularity of dairy in Poland, where products are widely consumed and deeply rooted in local food culture. Indeed, dairy products and alternatives are widely available across retail channels, and there is strong consumer trust in well-known domestic producers, which are recognised for offering high-quality products made from locally sourced milk. Dairy products and alternatives offer a wide variety of options to suit different consumer needs, from traditional items like milk, cream, and cheese, to functional products enriched with protein or probiotics, as well as lactose-free and plant-based alternatives. This broad range appeals to both health-conscious consumers and those with specific dietary preferences.
Delivery:
Files are delivered directly into your account soon after payment is received and any tax certification is verified (where applicable).
This report comes in PDF with additional info in Excel included.
Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Dairy Products and Alternatives industry in Poland 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 Poland, 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 Poland 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 Poland?
- Which are the leading brands in Dairy Products and Alternatives in Poland?
- How are products distributed in Dairy Products and Alternatives in Poland?
- 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 Poland?
- 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 Poland
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 Poland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Baby food consumption falls amid declining birth rates
Nutricia Polska SP zoo leads in baby food
Grocery retailers retain strong position driven by growth in discounters
Baby food is expected to witness slight value growth
Product development centres on added functionality and health benefits
Danone's strategic expansion is set to further cement its overall lead
Butter and Spreads in Poland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Modest growth as margarine and spreads gains appeal
ZT Kruszwica SA solidifies its lead in butter and spreads
Discounters extends its strong position in butter and spreads
Modest outlook for butter and spreads
Health and convenience to spur product development
Butter to benefit from staple use and the localised industry
Cheese in Poland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Buoyant performance for the cheese category
Hochland Polska Sp maintains a slim lead over its competitors
Discounters prove popular as consumers seek lower prices
Moderate growth expected for cheese category
Natural and organic cheeses will expand to meet health and sustainable needs
Spreadable cheese will continue to be favoured for its low prices and convenience
Drinking Milk Products in Poland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Drinking milk products witnessed a rise in value sales
SM Mlekpol leads the competitive landscape
Discounters takes the lead in distribution of drinking milk products
Drinking milk sales expected to rise
Milk producers respond to demands for functional health benefits
Full-fat milk benefits from its natural and traditional positioning
Yoghurt and Sour Milk Products in Poland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Steady demand for yoghurt and sour milk products
Zott Polska Sp heads up the competitive landscape
Discounters draw consumers with attractive prices and broad product choice
Combination of health, nutrition and convenience will drive appeal of yoghurt and sour milk
Health trend will spearhead product development
Further innovation in production and packaging expected
Other Dairy in Poland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Other dairy feels the impact of higher prices
OSM Piatnica bolsters its strong position in other dairy
Discounters leads in terms of retail distribution
Ongoing demand for other dairy to sustain growth
Strong emphasis on health to benefit other dairy
Increasing use of Nutri-Score labelling expected
Plant-Based Dairy in Poland
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Rising consumption and appeal drives growth
SANTE Sp zoo leads the category with Alpro brand
Discounter channel holds strong position in plant-based dairy
Product proliferation will drive category sales
Healthier lifestyles to fuel interest in plant-based dairy
Gen Z drives demand thanks to environmental consciousness
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Dairy Products and Alternatives
-
- Dried Baby Food
- Prepared Baby Food
- Other Baby Food
-
-
- Liquid Standard Milk Formula
- Powder Standard Milk Formula
-
- Liquid Follow-on Milk Formula
- Powder Follow-on Milk Formula
-
- Liquid Growing-Up Milk Formula
- Powder Growing-Up Milk Formula
-
- Liquid Special Baby Milk Formula
- Powder Special Baby Milk Formula
-
-
-
- Butter
- Cooking Fats
- Margarine and Spreads
-
- Spreadable Cheese
- Processed Cheese excl Spreadable
-
- Packaged Hard Cheese
- Unpackaged Hard Cheese
- Soft Cheese
-
-
- Dairy Only Flavoured Milk Drinks
- Flavoured Milk Drinks with Fruit Juice
-
-
-
- Fat-free Fresh Milk
- Semi Skimmed Fresh Milk
- Full Fat Fresh Milk
-
- Fat-free Shelf Stable Milk
- Semi Skimmed Shelf Stable Milk
- Full Fat Shelf Stable Milk
-
- Goat Milk
-
- Powder Milk
-
-
- Sour Milk Products
-
- Drinking Yoghurt
- Flavoured Yoghurt
- Plain Yoghurt
-
-
- Chilled Dairy Desserts
- Shelf Stable Dairy Desserts
- Chilled Snacks
- Coffee Whiteners
-
-
- Flavoured Condensed Milk
- Plain Condensed Milk
- Evaporated Milk
-
- Cream
-
- Flavoured Fromage Frais and Quark
- Plain Fromage Frais and Quark
- Savoury Fromage Frais and Quark
-
-
-
-
- Soy Drinks
- Other Plant-based Milk
- Plant-based Yoghurt
- Plant-based Cheese
-
Why buy this report?
- Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders
- Track key industry trends, opportunities and threats
- Inform your marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales and supply functions
This report originates from Passport, our Dairy Products and Alternatives research and analysis database.
NEW REPORT GUARANTEE
If you purchase a report that is updated in the next 60 days, we will send you the new edition and data extraction Free!