DIY Vegan Almond Milk Machines Arrive at Whole Foods

Updated May 1, 2019. A new vegan milk brand called NüMilk may make it possible to get fresh-made organic almond milk in your local supermarket.

A NüMilk nut milk machine was spotted at two New Jersey Whole Foods Markets and is now heading to stores across the country. The refrigerated section of the machine offers pre-made almond milk in sweetened and unsweetened flavors, with shelves of empty bottles for those who wish to make their own. While new, the concept is similar to the make-your-own nut butter machines found in Whole Foods and natural food stores.

According to an Instagram post, NüMilk’s machines are being piloted at select stores with plans to roll out more in 2019. Its dairy-free milks are raw, organic, and free from additives, like gums and emulsifiers, used in many conventional brands.

The Rising Vegan Milk Market

The $1.8 billion plant-based milk market continues to grow in the United States, a sign that the industry becoming more mainstream. A study released by food giant Cargill last September revealed that 50 percent of Americans regularly buy vegan milk due to dairy allergies or concerns over antibiotics and hormones commonly found in dairy milk.

NüMilk is part of a small number of companies creating vegan milk free from additives, appealing to the rising demand for “better-for-you” food.

Other brands offering similar products include the Texas-based MALK Organics, which gained nationwide distribution at Whole Foods last September and New York’s dairy-plant-turned-vegan-milk-maker, Elmhurst 1925.

California’s Califia Farms, which secured a $50 million investment from Ambrosia Investments and the Stripes Group over the summer, recently launched its own additive-free “homestyle” line of plant milk.

NüMilk’s organic almond milk machines are expected to roll out to more locations later this year.