# High-Protein Plant-Based Beverages Silk® 18g Protein Has Fiber and 10 Essential Nutrients By Michael Hemsworth | Published 2026-05-26 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/silk-18g-protein References: [theplantbasemag](https://www.theplantbasemag.com/news/silk-launches-first-to-market-18g-protein-plant-based-beverage-in-canada) & [silk](https://silk.com)  Plant-based beverages are often associated with having a low protein content which is something that brands are combating against with new products like the Silk® 18g [Protein](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/proteinrich-milk-alternative) beverage. Developed by [Danone Canada](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/greekstyle-plantbased-yogurt) and arriving in the Canadian market, the beverage features 18-grams of protein per 250ml serving alongside fiber and 10 essential nutrients like calcium, vitamin D and B vitamins. The drink also contains 50% less sugar than dairy-based milk products as a nod to consumers who are looking to decrease their sugar intake. The beverage features a smooth texture that will help to differentiate it from other protein drinks on the market, and comes in two flavors including Regular and Chocolate. Silk® 18g Protein beverage is arriving in a 1.42-liter refrigerated format at major grocers across Canada. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 9.0/10 - Popularity: 95% | Activity: 96% | Freshness: 78% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **High-protein Plant Beverages:** Rising consumer demand for plant-based drinks containing 15–20+ grams of protein per serving creates scope for novel protein extraction, blending and stabilization technologies to rival dairy performance. - **Nutrient-fortified Alternatives:** Products fortified with targeted vitamins, minerals and fiber open possibilities for tailored nutritional formulations that address specific demographic deficiencies and lifecycle needs. - **Reduced-sugar Dairy Replacements:** A shift toward lower-sugar formulations in milk alternatives highlights potential for natural sweetener systems and texture-enhancing solutions that preserve mouthfeel while cutting sugar. ### Where This Applies - **Grocery Retail:** Shelf-level demand for premium refrigerated plant beverages suggests new merchandising formats and cold-chain logistics models focused on higher-margin functional drinks. - **Food Manufacturing:** Manufacturers capable of integrating high-protein plant concentrates with stable texture and nutrient retention stand to transform processing lines and ingredient supply chains. - **Sports Nutrition:** Protein-forward plant beverages formatted as ready-to-drink options create opportunities for category crossover products targeting active consumers seeking clean-label recovery solutions. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Ultra-Filtered Flavored Protein Milks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barebells-milk-drink.md) - [Replenishing Protein-Fiber Powders](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/propel-clear-protein.md) - [Lightly Sparkling Protein Drinks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/whey-water.md) - [Protein-Rich Milk Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/proteinrich-milk-alternative.md) - [Functional Protein Fiber Refreshments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beyond-immerse.md) - [Multi-Benefit Protein Beverages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/clear-protein-refreshers.md) - [Minimal-Ingredient Protein Powders](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plenish-plant-based-protein-powder.md) - [Simple Protein-Infused Soymilks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/simple-organic-soymilk.md) - [High-Protein Plant-Based Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/planteneers-functional-systems.md)