In just one decade, Australian plant-based and dairy milk brand Milklab has risen to become “the golden cream sitting atop the country’s burgeoning, trendy cafe culture” – bringing new flavours and cultural coffee innovations to cafe goers across the country and setting its sights on international expansion.
Boasting a portfolio of full cream and Lactose Free dairy milks and popular plant-based milk options such as Almond, Oat, Soy, Macadamia, and Coconut, Milklab is Australia’s “number one(1)” barista plant milk brand. Further to this, Milklab Almond Milk and Milklab Oat Milk sit comfortably as “the number one and number two preferred barista milks respectively in thousands of Australian cafes”. Milklab Lactose Free is also showing increased consumer interest with an 8.4% growth last year, according to the brand.
Milklab is the flagship plant-based milk brand of leading Australian food and beverage company, Noumi – a manufacturing “leader” in the long-life milk category.
Over the past 10 years, Milklab has moved from strength to strength, innovating its range of barista milks, working with cafes and baristas, and shaping a new era of coffee culture in Australia:
- 10 years of growth: Last year, Milklab’s portfolio of plant-based milks experienced 28% revenue growth and is showing strong international demand. Over Milklab’s 10-year journey, processing figures of Milklab milks has increased eight-fold with around 55 million litres of milk processed in 2024 alone. The shift in consumer demand for healthy food and beverage options is also fuelling strong interest in Milklab Lactose Free with an 8.4% growth last financial year.
- Global expansion: The Milklab range is available in 18 countries around the world with several markets in Southeast Asia presenting key opportunities for Milklab expansion as demand for health focussed food products increases across the region.
- Built on collaboration: Milklab was developed in collaboration with baristas, coffee roasters and cafe owners. Milklab continues to innovate its range with coffee experts to ensure its range continues to pair perfectly with espresso coffee and other cafe beverages.
- Driving trends: Milklab has pioneered new café experiences in Australia, partnering with Australian music superstars such as Tones And I and DJ Cyril for Milklab Coffee Shop Sets – social occasions for consumers to experience Milklab barista milks paired with coffee and on trend flavours like matcha in hot and iced beverages, and bringing global cultural and flavour trends down under.
- MILKLAB sensations: Milklab initiatives such as the MILKLAB Sensations drinks program involves supporting cafes with on trend and exciting beverage recipes made with Milklab to inspire cafe menus and support them to attract consumer interest and increase foot traffic into cafés across the country.
- Move into retail: The past 12 months has seen Milklab 1L plant-based milks stocked on leading supermarket shelves, giving consumers access to their favourite cafe barista milk so they can enjoy barista quality coffee in the comfort of their own home.
Noumi CEO Michael Perich says taste and a focus on leading healthier lifestyles are the two main factors driving consumers to Milklab’s range of plant-based milks.
“The Milklab brand is now synonymous with Australian coffee culture. From humble roots, this Australian owned and made range of dairy and plant-based milks continues to appeal to the taste preferences and health ideals of Australian consumers.
“The brand has grown over the past 10 years, to now be the country’s number one barista preferred plant-based milks brand with strong growth in the Lactose Free category. This leadership is a testament to years of collaboration with world-class primary producers and coffee professionals to create high quality dairy and plant-based milks that deliver on taste and texture.”
However, the times are changing. “While lattes and cappuccinos remain the undisputed staples of Australia’s cafe scene, new beverage flavours are increasingly popular among 18-24-year-old cafe goers, with 40% of this age group ordering Matcha and 36% ordering flavoured iced Matcha in the last six months”, according to the latest results of the Milklab GenZ Survey, 2025.
“Plant-based milk coffee and iced beverages are increasingly commanding prime position on cafe menu boards, with 58% of Gen Z cafe goers reporting that the brand of milk or plant-based milk influences their choice of cafe. Almond milk (30%) followed by Oat milk (26%) are the plant-based milks of choice for Gen Z.”
(1) Tracksuit Brand Health Tracker 2024
