Welcome to Jim Carper’s Dairy Case, a look at the people, products and processors in the news. This week: Bel Brands USA, Fro-Yo, Yoplait, T. Marzetti and more.

PROCESSORS
Bel Brands USA, Chicago, said it will build a $100 million, 170,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Brookings, S.D., to produce its Mini Babybel cheese. Bel Brands manufactures and markets The Laughing Cow cheese wedges, Mini Babybel, Boursin, Merkts, Kaukauna and other natural and gourmet cheese spreads. The U.S. subsidiary of Paris-based Fromageries Bel has two other production facilities in the U.S., in Leitchfield, Ky., and Little Chute, Wis. The Company will break ground on the first phase this summer and the plant will become fully operational by 2014. The second phase, which is contingent on anticipated increased market demands, is envisioned to be built in 2016-2017, the company said.

Duane Reade, a drugstore chain on the East Coast, opened a self-serve frozen yogurt bar in its store at Broadway and 52nd Street in New York City. The store serves Fro-Yo frozen yogurt.  Duane Reade collaborated with CBX, its creative retail brand partner, to help develop the name, look and feel for this store within a store environment for a fresh food offering space. The organic shape of the machines mimics the swirl of the frozen yogurt while a green accent subway tile leads customers through the entire journey with style from cup pick up to flavor choice and topping, according to a press release.

DAIRY RESEARCH
Pouring at least one glass of milk each day could not only boost your intake of much-needed key nutrients, but it could also positively impact your brain and mental performance, according to a recent study in the International Dairy Journal. The Milk Processors Education Program reported that researchers found that adults with higher intakes of milk and milk products scored significantly higher on memory and other brain function tests than those who drank little to no milk. Milk drinkers were five times less likely to "fail" the test, compared to non milk drinkers.

DAIRY PRODUCTS
Tula Foods Inc., Evanston, Ill., launched Better Whey of Life, an all-natural brand of Greek yogurt made with whey protein from grass-fed cows. Distributed in Chicago, Denver and San Francisco are six "twist-on-the-familiar" varieties: blackberry pomegranate, strawberry goji berry, raspberry white grape, acai mixed berry, vanilla bean and plain.

Yoplait’s newest yogurt is Yoplait Lactose Free. It is 99% fat free, and contains 50% of the Daily Value of calcium and vitamin D. It is sold in four flavors; Strawberry, Peach, Cherry and French Vanilla, and contains no artificial sweeteners.

T. Marzetti Co. added to its Simply Dressed refrigerated salad dressings with new Simply Dressed & Light varieties. They are Light Blue Cheese, Light Ranch, Light Caesar, Light Celery Seed Slaw and Light Raspberry Acai. Yogurt is used in the creamy Lights.

DAIRY CALENDAR
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) and NSF International’s Training and Education Division have organized a two-day intensive program entitled, HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) for the Organic Professional. The workshop is an essential resource for companies committed to maintaining both certified organic and food safety standards. The course will be offered March 7-8, 2012, prior to Natural Products Expo West 2012, in Anaheim, Calif. Additional information and registration details are online.