Several cultured product makers are stepping outside of their comfort zone to provide a crowd of innovative new offerings that come equipped with zesty flavors and intricate packaging concepts.

A focus on face-to-face service and long-term customer relationships makes Leprino Foods Co., Denver, a global leader in cheese and ingredients.

Faced with stagnant growth and competition from non-dairy beverages, processors try to boost sales with flavored milk, new retail channels and new processes.

Whether it’s raw cheeses, unusually flavored options or a portion-control size, today’s cheese processors introduce a slew of crafty innovations.

Despite high energy costs, uncertain ingredient prices and a weak economy, processors continue to develop new ice cream and novelty products and flavors.

Sales rose although units dropped in the last year. Butter makers try new flavors to lure shoppers to the dairy case.

The beverage aisle bulks up as processors add protein, vitamins, antioxidants and other better-for-you ingredients to their team of teas, coffee, juices and water.

Processors find that smoother sailing on the export seas depends on managing global price volatility.

It’s hard to be optimistic with so many fundamentals in disarray - millions are out of work, the stock market gyrates daily and our President and Congress seem incapable of reaching agreement on ways to change our course or to even send a message that stability and hope lie ahead.

Is your company bottling grape juice? If not, it might be a good idea to add this beverage to your filling lines. Here’s why: Sales of the drink, measured in dollars, increased 345%, unit sales increased 178% and the average unit price increased $1.16 to $3.09. Clearly, the purple beverage is a superstar, according to 52-week data provided by Chicago-based market researcher SymphonyIRI Group.