They say that cream always rises to the top – and that may be true for Irish shoppers, as milk and milk alternatives begin to rise up the rankings of the Checkout Top 100 Brands.
Falling from second place in 2020 to third place in 2021, followed by fourth place in 2022, the category is on the up, ranking third on the categories list in 2023.
Even with the high rank, market share for the top five brands remains relatively low, at 35.4% – down from 38.7% the previous year.
The small market share indicates competition within the category, and although these are the top five, milk and milk alternatives remain a popular product for Irish shoppers.
Published every August, the Checkout Top 100 Brands is based on branded value sales across the Irish grocery sector, making it the most accurate barometer of the biggest-selling brands in the marketplace.
In compiling the report, NIQ Ireland measures the sales performance of over 5,000 brands from over 200 product classes.
Ireland’s Top Five Milks And Milk Alternatives
1 Avonmore
Ireland’s number-one milk brand takes its place at the top of this list, and it sits comfortably at number five in the top 100 overall brands. Avonmore remains committed to high-quality products and innovation, adding protein milk, Super Milk, and dairy-free alternatives to its offerings. The brand is also proudly Irish, even developing its oat drink with oats that are fully traceable to Irish farms.
2 Alpro
Second on the list is Alpro, which exclusively produces dairy-free milk alternatives. Though maintaining its number-two spot in the category for a second year, it tumbles ten places in the overall brand rankings – from 55 to 65. However, with the rising interest in dairy alternatives over the past number of years, Alpro is well positioned with its diverse range of milk and dairy product alternatives.
3 Premier
Premier milk holds third position in the milk category, though it does not make it into the Top 100 Brands. Producing Dublin’s milk since 1966, Premier became popular for its Dublin delivery. Now with much lower delivery – though still carrying on – Premier has its high quality and good reputation to thank for its strong position on the list.
4 Connacht Gold
Though it also did not make the Top 100 Brands, Connacht Gold is well positioned in the dairy sector, taking the crown for second-most popular butter in that category. Connacht Gold is highly committed to supporting Irish farmers, which ensures high-quality produce, keeping it present on Irish consumers’ shopping lists.
5 Golden Vale Glanbia
Back in the top five for the first time in three years, Golden Vale Glanbia knocks Lee Strand from the position that it held last year. Glanbia took over Golden Vale in 2011, and the milk brand – named after the area thought to be ideal for dairy farming – and it has held its popularity, sneaking back into the top five this year.
Read More: Fizzing With Popularity – Ireland’s Top Soft Drinks
