Sales in the milk category (as measured by dollars) were on the rise in 2011, up 6.7% in the 52 weeks ended Nov. 27, 2011. Unit sales, on the other hand were off 2.7%, according to Chicago-based SymphonyIRI Group. The category includes five segments: whole milk, skim/lowfat milk, flavored milk/eggnog/buttermilk, milkshakes/non-dairy drinks and kefir/milk substitutes/soymilk.
Sales of whole milk matched the overall category, increasing 6.8% to $2.8 billion, thanks to an average price increase of 27 cents. Meanwhile, unit sales decreased 3%. Horizon Organic from Broomfield, Colo.-based WhiteWave Foods (a unit of Dean Foods) was the best-selling branded whole milk. (Private-label brands sell the most.) The largest gains went to Deans branded milk from Dallas-based Dean Foods; dollar sales were up to $31 million, a 22% increase and unit sales were up almost 11%. Others seeing significant increases in dollar sales were Prairie Farms, Carlinville, Ill., (20.5%); Organic Valley, La Farge, Wis.. (14.8%); and another Deans Foods unit, Tuscan Dairy Farms, Burlington, N.J. (13.5%).