Asahi yeast-based 'LIKE MILK' in SIG aseptic packaging

The dairy alternatives market has received a disruptive new entrant as Asahi Group Japan launches LIKE MILK, the country’s first commercially available yeast-based beverage with milk-like characteristics.

The pioneering product is being packaged in SIG SmallBloc aseptic cartons, utilising SIG’s high-output SIG Small 12 Aseptic filling machine – a move that highlights the critical role of flexible packaging technology in unlocking entirely new product categories.

Currently in test sales in selected Japanese supermarkets and e-commerce channels, LIKE MILK is slated for expanded distribution by 2026, marking the inaugural step in a new partnership between Asahi Group Japan and SIG.

Unlike traditional plant-based milk alternatives derived from soy, oats, or nuts, LIKE MILK is developed using Asahi Group’s proprietary yeast technology. This process results in a beverage that offers comparable levels of protein and calcium to cow milk but is entirely free from milk components and the 28 specified allergenic ingredients.

Tomohiro Hata, senior manager, Future Creation Headquarters Department at Asahi Group Japan, stated that the product aims to "help realise a society that embraces food diversity, where everyone can freely enjoy food regardless of physical conditions such as allergies, ethical beliefs, or preferences for non-dairy or health-conscious choices."

For the beverage industry, the launch demonstrates the power of flexible aseptic packaging infrastructure to accelerate market entry for complex, novel products. Co-packed by Mori Milk, LIKE MILK was brought to market quickly thanks to the technical capabilities of the SIG Small 12 Aseptic filler.

This machine is highly flexible, capable of supporting two carton formats (SIG SmallBloc and SIG SmallFit) and handling up to 16 aseptic carton variants on a single system.

Angela Lu, president & general manager, Asia Pacific at SIG, commented: "The SIG Small 12 Aseptic offers brands such as Asahi the flexibility to prototype new ideas and commercialise them quickly and at scale. This launch showcases how SIG packaging and filling technology can unlock entirely new product categories in competitive markets.”

With an output of 12,000 packs per hour and the ability to switch between volumes and formats in just a few minutes, the filling line provides beverage manufacturers with the agility needed to keep pace with diversifying consumer demands, growing health consciousness, and sustainability awareness.