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Dutch supermarket giant Albert Heijn has become the first major retailer in the Netherlands to introduce a line of its own hybrid dairy and plant milk products into stores.

The launch is the result of a collaboration between the Netherlands' Farm Dairy and Denmark-based food-tech firm PlanetDairy, marking a significant milestone for the dairy sector.

Available in skimmed, semi-skimmed and whole varieties, the hybrid milk products are said to offer comparable levels of vitamins B and B+, with added vitamin D, to traditional dairy and plant-based options.

The skimmed milk features 2.7 g protein and 0.1 g saturated fat compared to 3.6 g and 0.6 g respectively for traditional skimmed milk, while the semi-skimmed has 3g of protein and 0.3g of saturated fat, compared to 3,5g and 1g in traditional products. The whole milk has 3g protein and 0.7g fat compared to 3.4g and 2.2g respectively for traditional whole milk.

The range is made from between 60-70% traditional dairy, with the balance made up of plant ingredients. Produced at Farm Dairy’s facility in Lelystad, the Netherlands, the milk will be offered at the same price as traditional dairy and plant-based options at Albert Heijn stores.

The collaboration began last year following the successful launch of cheese alternatives into the Nordic market. Hans Zijlstra, manager of quality & technology at Farm Dairy, said: “Combining our traditional dairy expertise with PlanetDairy’s food-tech innovation allowed us to create a product that meets the evolving demands of modern consumers – those who want sustainability without sacrificing taste.”

By combining PlanetDairy’s proprietary blending technology and Farm Dairy’s established production capabilities, the hybrid milks are designed to offer the sensory and nutritional experience of traditional dairy with a substantially reduced carbon footprint.

“The first challenge to overcome was taste and appearance,” said Paul Cornillon, CTO of PlanetDairy. “The milk needed to match the experience of traditional dairy in every way, while also being affordable and nutritionally balanced.”

For Albert Heijn, the launch underscores its commitment to innovation and environmental leadership in retail. “We pride ourselves on being pathbreakers in Dutch retail,” said Jan de Graaf, head of dairy at Albert Heijn. “The Farm Dairy and PlanetDairy partnership made it possible for us to bring this hybrid milk to market as a first in the Netherlands.”

Following the launch of hybrid milk in the Netherlands, the companies have already announced a collaboration to bring hybrid yogurt to supermarket shelves.

“This is just the beginning,” said Jakob Skovgaard, CEO of PlanetDairy. “We're excited to build on this momentum and help shape the future of dairy, where sustainability, taste and nutrition are no longer trade-offs.”

Skimmed, semi-skimmed and whole hybrid milks are available across the Netherlands at Albert Heijn stores now.