China licks the United States in ice cream sales; Fonterra cuts staff; ‘drying times’ for a Valio whey powder plant; and other international dairy news headlines

Anuga Dairy makes room for 380 exhibitors; Dutch supplier Numidia opens a Singapore office; flavor supplier Takasago opens technical center in Mexico.

China licks the United States in ice cream sales

The market research firm Mintel says China has overtaken the United States as the world’s biggest ice cream market. Between 2008 and 2014, the total market value for ice cream sales in China has nearly doubled, soaring 90% to $11.4 billion. Meanwhile, the U.S. market has grown at a much slower rate, climbing by 15% over the same period to $11.2 billion.

Overall, global sales of ice cream reached $50 billion in 2014, increasing by 9% from 2011 when sales were valued at $46 billion.

Accounting for one-third of all ice cream products sold in 2014, sales in China reached 5.9 billion liters in 2014, compared to 5.8 billion liters in the United States. In 2015, the Chinese are expected to consume 6.3 billion liters in China, which would be valued at $12.6 billion. 2015 sales in the United States are expected to hit $11.4 billion.

The top five ice cream markets by volume globally are:

China (5.9 billion liters)
United States (5.8 billion liters)
Japan (784 million liters)
Russia (668 million liters)
Germany (545 million liters)

Fonterra plans to eliminate 523 positions; reports on other cost-saving moves

New Zealand dairy cooperative Fonterra announced this week it is eliminating 523 jobs, with expected one-time savings of NZ$12 to NZ$15 million and annual payroll savings of approximately NZ$55 to NZ$60 million. Affected staff will begin to leave the cooperative in September.

The move is part of a larger initiative to shave costs. For example, it said changing the way in which export containers leave the cooperative’s distribution centers has saved NZ$5 million a year. Fonterra is a farmer-owned co-operative and the largest processor of milk in the world.

Finnish dairy company Valio boosts production whey powder plant

Valio, Finland’s biggest dairy company, boosted the production of its Lapinlahti whey powder plant by more than 10% by implementing the proprietary Napcon controller solution from Neste Jacobs. Valio also is optimizing a milk powder plant in Seinäjoki, Finland, consisting of both an evaporator and a spray dryer.

Since whey and milk powder production is about drying fluids, the process is very energy-consuming. When the spray dryer can be controlled so that it always uses the right amount of heat, a whey or milk powder plant can significantly increase the production using the same amount of energy as before. At the same time the risk for shutdowns due to bag filter clogging is also significantly reduced.

Napcon balances the need of energy within the desired product specifications so that the energy consumption is minimized. Napcon can predict the moisture content and in real time adjust the water balance.

--Submitted by Neste Jacobs

Anuga Dairy makes room for 380 exhibitors

Anuga Dairy, the trade fair for milk and dairy products, kicks of Oct. 10 and runs until Oct. 14. The show’s organizers say Anuga Dairy “offers the most comprehensive overview of the international dairy market worldwide.”

Among the 380 exhibitors are Alpro, Andechser Molkerei Scheitz, Andros, Arla, Bauer, Delizia, Deutsches Milchkontor (DMK), Ehrmann, Emmi, Fage Dairy, Fayrefield Foods, FrieslandCampina, Hochwald Foods and Zanetti.

National pavilions will feature dairies from Belgium, France, Greece, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Spain and Cyprus. For the first time, groups from Argentina, Australia and Thailand will be exhibiting there.

The Dutch dairy supplier Numidia opens a Singapore office

Numidia has opened an office in Singapore. Managing Director Han van Hagen said it is the logical step in the development of the company. “We have more and more customers in Southeast Asia, and an office in Singapore gives us the possibility to give them the service they deserve.”

Numidia is a Dutch company specializing in the distribution, sales and marketing of dairy products and related ingredients. It offers milk powders, whey powders, butter, cheese and tailor-made blends. Numidia also markets its own products, including CINQ (Instant Yogo) and Numilac (instant fat-filled powders).

Flavor supplier Takasago opens technical center in Mexico

Takasago de Mexico, a supplier of flavors for beverage, dessert and dairy products, opened a Creative Center for Flavors and Fragrances in Tlalnepantla, Estado de Mexico. The Center features technical enhancements for the production of spray dry powdered flavors and new liquid emulsion capabilities. The facility also includes areas dedicated to market research and sensory analysis.