Featured Stories - Articles - Page 152

Market Trends: Unit sales drop for refrigerated juices

In the last 52 weeks, unit sales dropped 2.8% in the refrigerated juices and drinks category, but processors were able to increase prices an average of 11 cents.

June 6, 2012

The refrigerated juices and drinks category includes orange, apple, cranberry, grape, blended fruits and other flavors. Lemonade and vegetable drinks also fall under this umbrella. In the 52 weeks ended April 15, total sales in the category were $4.4 billion, an increase of 0.9%. Unit sales fell 2.8% to 1.55 billion. The only bright spot in the category was an average price increase of 11 cents. The data come from SymphonyIRI Group, Chicago.

People Announcements: June 2012

June 6, 2012

Friendly’s Ice Cream, said Anthony M. Lavely joined the company as executive vice president and chief marketing officer. He will be responsible for company-wide marketing, including advertising, media, field marketing, digital, public relations, and product development.

Westby Co-op opens new office, DC

June 6, 2012

Westby Cooperative Creamery, Westby, Wis., moved into a new distribution center and offices. It broke ground on the project in September 2011. The distribution center totals 10,000 square feet of refrigerated warehouse space for manufactured dairy food products. It holds 1,000 pallet spaces in five-high racking. The office area contains 6,000 square feet of space.

Survey of most-used packaging in beverages

June 6, 2012

Dairy processors who produce beverages plan to increase their use of glass and aluminum materials in 2012, according to a new Dairy Foodssurvey. Glass shows an increase of six percentage points and aluminum 5% points. BNP Market Research conducted a web-based survey of Dairy Foodssubscribers in February.

A new tool to help choose eco-friendly packaging

Dr. Gail Barnes

June 6, 2012

Consumers today care increasingly about the environment, and they expect the products they buy to be produced in an environmentally responsible way. Milk is no exception. In fact, a study conducted for the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy showed that frequent milk users are more engaged in environmental issues than less frequent milk consumers.

New creative dairy dishes in restaurants

In addition to old standbys like mac and cheese, restaurant chains create dishes like spicy beef queso and Parmesan-crusted walleye.

June 6, 2012

Restaurant operators keep things fresh by revamping their menus and developing new dishes. The dairy foods industry has benefitted big time. Cheese, ice cream, sour cream and other dairy foods are appearing throughout these new menus. They are incorporated into appetizers, main and side dishes, desserts and beverages.

Hospitals use ice cream to raise funds and awareness of a disease

James Carper

June 6, 2012

Men of a certain age will remember Bill Cosby’s routine about his anticipation of ice cream following his childhood tonsillectomy. “Ice cream! I’m gonna eat ice cream!” I listened to that album (“Wonderfulness”) nonstop for months.

Awards

Winner announced in DDW's second annual Natural Coloring Competition

June 5, 2012

D.D. Williamson congratulates the winning team in its second annual Natural Coloring Competition for Students.

National Dairy Month

The California dairy industry answers questions about milk

June 4, 2012

Have you ever wondered which milk is best for you and your family? For National Dairy Month, the California Milk Processor Board and the Dairy Council of California are educating consumers on the various milk options available today and how their choices could make a difference in their overall health. "Dairy milk has been a part of the American lifestyle for centuries, but families still have many questions about this beverage," says Ashley Rosales, Registered Dietitian for Dairy Council of California.

A look inside the plant of yogurt giant Dannon

Dannon’s highly automated plant in Minster, Ohio, can process 3 million cups of yogurt a day. The 24/7 facility turns out cup-set and blended yogurts, plus cultured dairy beverages.

June 1, 2012

Auglaize County is a prosperous agricultural region in west central Ohio where the median household income is about $52,000 and the poverty rate is 7%, well below the state’s level of 14%. One town in the county is Minster, located about 50 miles north of Dayton. It was settled in 1832 by German immigrants. Minster’s town crest reflects the heritage of its founding fathers. The crest includes a Christian cross and two pagan symbols important to Saxons — an acorn and horse heads. A fourth symbol is a canal boat.