Aussie surfer Nikki Van Dijk on board for Bickford’s new vegan milks
South Australian drinks maker Bickford’s is set to create waves with its new vegan product range endorsed by Aussie surfer Nikki Van Dijk.
SA Business
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SOUTH Australian beverages producer Bickford’s Australia is making inroads into a new market, trying to woo vegans with its plant-based milks range endorsed by surfing star Nikki Van Dijk.
Bickford’s Australia said moving into milk alternatives was a “natural step” with sales in that category in Australia growing 48 per cent to 132m litres in four years.
Five plant-based milk varieties – an Australian-first pistachio, almond, oat, cashew and macadamia – will be on supermarket shelves across the country in the coming weeks.
Bickford’s own investment in machinery and expansion in recent years has also helped in its evolution.
The group, which launched a new Violet Crumble milk in partnership with Robern Menz last month, invested in an aseptic production line last year, which ensures its plant milks are preservative free and fresh while allowing the liquids to be run at a lower temperature than other hot-fill processes.
Bickford’s is also one of the only Australian manufacturers with the capability to blow, label and fill PET packaged products on site.
Bickford’s group sales and marketing manager Chris Illman said the group was responding to growing demand for vegan milk alternatives.
“2020 has been full of change, with Aussies adapting the way they live more than ever before.
“Bickford’s Premium Plant Milk is the result of investment in world-class technology,” he said.
The entire range will be manufactured, bottled and warehoused in SA.
Bickford’s has also aligned with professional surfer Nikki Van Dijk, who turned vegan eight years ago.
“I’m proud to work with an Australian-owned company that is challenging Australians to think differently and discover new ways to consume plant milks,” Ms Van Dijk said.
“There’s a real misconception that we are limited in our choices,” she said.
Ms Van Dijk said she liked to mix things up and use macadamia milk in her morning coffee, while adding the pistachio or oat milk to cereals and using cashew milk for snacks and vegan desserts.
The 1-litre milks are available through independent retailers nationally in the chilled drinks aisle.
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