Perennial’s plant-based beverage targets specific demographic

A new vegan brand is creating a plant-based, non-dairy health beverage specifically for people over 50

Spotted: A new California-based vegan beverage brand is creating a plant-based, non-dairy beverage that promotes healthy ageing. Perennial’s first product contains the same protein and nutrient levels as 2 percent dairy milk, and is lactose, cholesterol and gluten free. It also contains essential vitamins and minerals, prebiotic fibre for gut health, and Omega-3 DHA, a fat similar to that contained in fish oils. The formulation is designed to aid digestion, bone and brain health.

In a recent interview, co-founder Brent Taylor said he was motivated by a lack of products specifically championing seniors and their desire to age better than previous generations.

“When we first started on this hypothesis, everyone told us not to talk about age specifically. But we feel it’s really important to have age as a key identifier, because we believe that’s how we can best innovate for them and best design, on their behalf, progressive food and beverage products,” Taylor told BevNET.

Perennial was founded Taylor, the former co-founder of vegan fake-meat brand Beyond Meat, and food scientist Sara Bonham, who worked at IndiBio developing products that replicated the taste, texture and nutrition of dairy milk. The company recently raised $2.5 million in funding from investors such as Collaborative Fund, who see Perennials’ products filling a market gap in the growing plant-based industry.