In the ongoing maturation of the U.S. dairy industry as a global player, we took another step forward in 2012.

Most people who work in the dairy industry are familiar with the iconic “got milk?” milk mustache campaign, but fewer know that research is the driving force behind MilkPEP’s approach to program activities ranging from targeting to messaging and creative execution. Often, the research conducted to guide our consumer campaign also provides our processors with important and actionable insights that can help guide product development, inform marketing and drive sales.

Fans can like the Facebook page of their favorite ice cream brand and Tweet all day long about its flavors. But sometimes, to really understand a company’s mission, you have to meet face-to-face with the owners and watch how they make ice cream. That’s the approach Snoqualmie Ice Cream owner Barry Bettinger takes with his distributors. He invites them to tour the fully sustainable manufacturing plant in Maltby, Wash., and make ice cream. Once the visitors see the passion of the company’s 12 employees and the integrity in manufacturing a super-premium organic ice cream (19% butterfat and 15% overrun), they “get it,” Bettinger said.

Cornell University has a world-renown dairy science department. But alumnus Neal Gottlieb, the founder of Three Twins Ice Cream, graduated from the College of Human Ecology with a degree in consumer economics and housing. He did enroll in a milk quality course — for a day. He dropped the class because it conflicted with his rowing schedule. As for Cornell’s famed creamery, Gottlieb admits he was not a huge consumer of its dairy products, but he fondly remembers the 99-cent ice cream sandwiches.

The 109th Annual Meeting of Westby Cooperative Creamery recaps a record setting year.

The ability to anticipate today the long-term investments needed for tomorrow opens the door for a significant competitive advantage. Now more than ever, ingenuity and smart strategy will be the cornerstone of dairy business growth.

Nelson-Jameson Inc., integrated supplier for the food industry, announces warehouse expansion in Wisconsin.

Coesia Group has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of Oystar North America Inc., a packaging machinery company, from Oystar Group.

Cheesemaking is all about balance and achieving consistency in the finished product. When the cheesemaker is also a dairy cooperative, there are additional and often competing concerns to balance. The farmer members of the co-op want a fair price for their milk, but the processing side doesn’t want to overpay, lest the finished product is too expensive for the market.