Dairy products and alternatives in 2025: The big picture
Sales of dairy products and alternatives have been impacted by the high cost of living that has affected the purchasing power of a large number of Romanians in 2025. Although the price of utilities has remained high, with this impacting disposable incomes, inflation has been on a downward trend. This has helped support volume growth, although this growth has been moderated by price increases. In fact, the price of dairy has increased above inflation because of the disruption to the supply of raw milk from local farmers. Local milk processors have been under mounting pressure due to their increasing costs such as the high and rising cost of energy, transportation, and storage. The increase in the average price of dairy is also linked to the growing interest in healthy lifestyles and diets which is being satisfied by high protein, organic and lactose-free dairy with these products seeing a stronger presence on retailers’ shelves as the demand grows.
Key trends in 2025
The increasing price of dairy in Romania is due to a combined result of the high prices being charged for electricity, gas and fuel, with this impacting agricultural works, manufacturing, transportation and storage. 2025 has continued to be challenging for farmers, as they have had to cope with higher production costs and only a small increase in volume sales. This has led to a reduction in dairy farm activity and a reduction in the country’s livestock.
Competitive Landscape
Lactalis continues to lead dairy products and alternatives at GBO level in 2025, which is the result of its domestic operations and its strong focus on local brands that are popular among Romanians such as Zuzu, Covalact de Tara, Albalact, and La Dorna. In fact, Romania has a long and strong tradition in dairy and consumer interest in local brands increased significantly during the pandemic and continues to grow in 2025. Despite this, the loss of purchasing power due to the high and rising cost of living has pushed more people towards private label.
Channel developments
Modern grocery retailers – supermarkets, hypermarkets and discounters – account for most sales of dairy products and alternatives in 2025. These channels continue to see strong expansion in the country, offering a broad range of products while bringing rapid exposure to new launches. Although inflation has stabilised in 2025, the average price of dairy remains high which has turned consumer attention towards promotions, economy brands and private label, all of which are prominent in supermarkets, hypermarkets and discounters. The high interest in private label has had a particularly positive impact on discounters such as Lidl and Penny, which focus primarily on private label products.
What next for dairy products and alternatives?
According to the National Bank of Romania, the annual rate of inflation is projected to decrease over then forecast period but it will remain high, especially in the early years of the forecast period. As a consequence, the average unit price of dairy products and alternatives will remain elevated, albeit growing at a slower rate. This means that consumers will likely continue to hunt for promotions and demand for private label and economy brands will prevail. Despite this, sales of dairy are expected to see growth in both volume and value terms (at constant 2025 prices) with dairy remaining a traditional component of everyday meals in Romania. On the other hand, dairy will continue to be affected by the high price of farming and cow feed and thus the price of raw milk will likely remain high, which could limit growth in retail volume terms.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Dairy Products and Alternatives industry in Romania 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 Romania, 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 Romania 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 Romania?
- Which are the leading brands in Dairy Products and Alternatives in Romania?
- How are products distributed in Dairy Products and Alternatives in Romania?
- 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 Romania?
- 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 Romania
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 Romania
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Romania’s Social Health Programme influences demand for milk formula
Nestlé and Danone retain their dominance in baby food
Distribution focused on modern grocery retailers and pharmacies
Stable growth predicted for baby food
Milk formula set to remain the focus of demand
Focus on breastfeeding likely to limit demand for milk formula
Butter and Spreads in Romania
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Government legislation has a big influence on demand
Groupe Lactalis benefits from control over key local dairies
Modern grocery retailers dominate sales
Mixed outlook for butter and spreads due to rising prices and new legislation
Butter stands to benefit from new Milk and Dairy Products Law
Players expected to take further steps to promote the healthiness of their products
Cheese in Romania
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Popularity of telemea remains central to the success of cheese in Romania
Local players control cheese sales in Romania
Modern grocery retailers dominate sales thanks to attractive promotions and affordable private label lines
Cheese set to remain a staple of the Romanian diet
Health and wellness unlikely to have a significant impact on demand
Specialist stores could present new sales opportunities for local cheese
Drinking Milk Products in Romania
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Drinking milk products benefit from cap on price markups
Local dairies play a key role in drinking milk products
Modern retailers playing a key role in drinking milk products
Fresh milk projected to see steady growth
Goat milk seen as a healthier alternative but supply challenges persist
Full fat fresh milk set to fuel sales with vending offering new sales opportunities
Yoghurt and Sour Milk Products in Romania
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Sales stagnate due to price rises but kefir shows strong promise
Local players dominate the market
Private label key to the success of modern grocery retailers
Natural and healthy image should help drive sales of yoghurt and sour milk products
High protein yoghurt set to support growth and development
Competition set to heat up with EU funds supporting the establishment of new dairies
Other Dairy in Romania
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Low fat cream a big sales driver thanks to price cap
Products with local connections remain the most popular
Modern grocery retailers retain their dominance thanks to strong offer
Cream could face significant challenges as consumers pursue healthier habits
Products targeting families likely to see among the most dynamic performances
Premiumisation could help counter the competition from artisanal products
Plant-Based Dairy in Romania
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Sales benefit from expanding target audience and an increased focus on health
Alpro remains synonymous with plant-based dairy in Romania
Modern grocery retailers dominate sales while e-commerce sees gains
Changing perception of plant-based dairy set to fuel strong growth
Switch to more ethical shopping behaviour and retail expansion should boost sales
Local players could bring new competition to the market
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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