Roberts Dairy, Omaha, Neb., is celebrating 100 years in the milk business with activities throughout the year. The company recently installed three 14-foot-tall fiberglass Roberts Dairy cows around the Kansas City Royals’ baseball stadium. A family-oriented celebration is planned in Omaha on July 15.


CoolBrands International has reached a licensing agreement with HBO for the introduction of a cherry-flavored ice cream sandwich called the “Cherry Chip Bada Bing!” The name is a reference to the New Jersey strip club operated by mobster Tony Soprano in the original HBO drama series “The Sopranos.”


Dean Foods said its first-quarter earnings fell 14.1% due to restructuring charges. Dean earned $52.8 million, or 37 cents a share, in the quarter, compared with $61.5 million, or 39 cents a share, a year ago. Sales from Dairy Group net sales increased $12 million to $2.20 billion in the first quarter of 2006. WhiteWave Foods reported first quarter net sales of $307 million, an 8% increase.


U.S. private equity group Oaktree Capital is buying British ice-cream maker Richmond Foods for $338.5 million. Oaktree, which owns interest in brands such as Nestle and Orange Maid, plans to combine Richmond with Italy's Roncadin ice cream group, which it also owns.

Saputo Inc., last month closed its cheese manufacturing plant in Peru, Ind. The plant was scheduled to cease operations on May 15, and 71 employees were expected to be affected.


Mayfield Dairy Farms says it is bringing two American traditions, ice cream and politics, together in the form of “Flavor Decision '06.” The flavor contest is a chance for the public to choose a favorite from among Mayfield's four new feature flavors.


The Vermont Institute for Artisan Cheese recently occupied a new 3,500-square-foot headquarters at the University of Vermont. With the space, technical capacity, and resources provided by the new building, the Institute claims it is now the nation’s most advanced center for research and instruction in artisan cheesemaking.


Alto Dairy Cooperative has partnered with Winona Foods Inc., to market Alto’s newly branded Black Creek™ Classic Cheddar nationwide. Black Creek is a naturally aged, hand-selected cheese.


Danish-Swedish dairy group Arla Foods said its Tagatose sweetener project has only been put on hold but not dropped altogether. A company spokesman said the project was put on hold because the group did not obtain the sales levels it had expected during test production, and that it is looking at alternative ways of carrying on with the project, including the possibility of divesting it.