In H1 2026, Poland’s fresh dairy market expanded by 4.1% in volume and 7.0% in value, with natural yogurts and drinking yogurts recording the sharpest gains, while bottled water posted a decline, Portal Spożywczy reports, citing Danone data.

Danone: fresh dairy category grows

According to Danone, H1 2026 continued the positive trajectory of the fresh dairy category (+4.1% volume, +7.0% value). The natural yogurt segment was the standout performer, rising 12.7% in volume and 18.3% in value, while drinking yogurts grew 11.7% in volume — reflecting both rising consumer preference for products seen as clean and simple, and growing demand for convenient, on-the-go formats suited to an active lifestyle.

“The dynamic growth of natural yogurt variants shows that Polish consumers increasingly opt for products with a simple composition, perceived as more natural and nutritionally beneficial. This is a trend we have been observing for some time, fitting into broader shifts in the food market. At the same time, drinking products are delivering very strong results, with volume up nearly 12% in H1 this year — evidence of rising demand for convenient formats that meet the needs of consumers with active, on-the-move lifestyles,” said Marek Sumiła, managing director of Danone and Żywieć-Zdrój.

Changes in the flavored yogurt segment are a natural consequence of evolving dietary preferences. A growing group of consumers chooses plain, natural products that they can combine themselves with fresh fruit, particularly during the spring and summer season — a pattern that has long reinforced natural yogurt sales and partially weighs on flavored variants.

Alpro outpaces the plant-based category

Plant-based dairy alternatives grew at a single-digit pace in H1 — +2.3% in volume and +6.3% in value. Alpro, however, outperformed the category, posting +6.4% volume growth and +8.6% in value. Crucially, gains were recorded in both plant-based drinks and spoonable (yogurt-style) products. This is noteworthy because the overall spoonable plant-based segment is in decline (-1.8% volume, -2.1% value), yet Alpro grew its volume share in that segment by more than 8% and its value share by 7.3%.

Bottled water in H1 2026: what held the market back?

The first half of 2026 proved more demanding for the bottled water category than the same period last year: -1.7% in volume and -0.4% in value. Several factors may have contributed, including less favorable weather and shifts in the market environment.

“It is worth remembering that the market was operating during this period under the conditions of implementing the nationwide deposit-return system (system kaucyjny), which required adaptation from producers, retailers and consumers alike. Such a major change always entails a transitional period and can affect category dynamics,” Sumiła noted.

Source: Portal Spożywczy