Wisconsin contest honors Gifford’s

For the third year in a row, Gifford’s Dairy, Skowhegan, Maine, was selected the Ice Cream Grand Champion in the World Dairy Expo (WDE) Championship Dairy Product Contest.

Woolrich Dairy, Lancaster, Wis., was selected as the Cheese and Butter Grand Champion, and Upstate Niagara Co-op, Buffalo, N.Y., was selected as the Grade A Grand Champion. The contest is sponsored by the Wisconsin Dairy Products Association.

Maryland processor awarded Level 3 SQF for Baltimore plant

Cloverland Dairy, Baltimore, was awarded a Level 3 Certification from the Safety Quality Foods Institute (SQF) — the highest possible qualification. Cloverland invested $250,000 in preparation for the SQF review, which included rigorous testing of the dairy’s quality management system. The formal certificate of registration, which covers dairy food processing as well as ice, drink and beverage processing, is valid through August 4, 2013.

Processor links product names to sustainable status

FrieslandCampina Kievit created a link between the product names of its ingredients based on palm oil and their sustainable palm status, RSPO Segregated (RSPO SG) or RSPO Mass Balance (RSPO MB). This immediately informs customers of the product’s sustainability level. The company said it is the first in the spray-dried ingredients market to adopt this initiative. FrieslandCampina has 100 production sites and sales offices in 25 countries.

Wisconsin group honors Dallas Wuethrich of Grassland Dairy Products

At its annual Dairy Symposium, held in Door County, Wis. in July, Wisconsin Dairy Products Association gave its 2012 Presidents Award to Dallas Wuethrich, president of Grassland Dairy Products Inc. The President’s award is annually bestowed on a member of the Wisconsin dairy community who is a vital steward to the dairy industry and exemplifies growth of dairy in Wisconsin. Wuethrich, a third-generation member of the family business, shares a deep appreciation for the community and believes that a strong community creates a positive, productive environment in which to live, work and raise a family.

New title for CDI’s Erba

California Dairies Inc. (CDI) appointed  Eric Erba as its senior vice president and chief strategy officer. He reports to Andrei Mikhalevsky, president and chief executive officer. Erba is the former senior vice president of administrative affairs for CDI. He has been with CDI since 2006.