Cheese is one of the most versatile foods around, with consumers enjoying it as a snack, as part of a meal and as an ingredient in countless dishes.

Over the past few years, freezer cases have been filling up with a new class of creamy, dreamy treats that bear all the hallmarks of sinful indulgence while delivering more pluses (think protein and fiber) and fewer minuses (added sugar or "artificial" anything), to boot.

The holiday flavor, which is said to taste like melted ice cream, is available for a limited time.

Dairy Foods chose its 10 best new dairy products of 2018, including squeezable Greek yogurt, chocolate whipped topping, skyr cream cheese and more.

The new yogurt platform represents the company’s biggest product release since Chobani Flip.

The non-GMO whipped topping is sold in a 10-ounce reusable recyclable container.

Exports are a demand-pull phenomenon, and demand has been good. U.S. milk equivalent exports from January to July were record high, up 19.5% from 2017.

Ingredient companies serving up "clean" options to their dairy-biz customers can rest assured: The ball will be in their court as we roll into 2019.

On the nondairy beverage front, the ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee and tea category has been throwing some well-placed hooks and jabs. Sales in the total category, including refrigerated and shelf-stable offerings, rose 11.5% during the 52 weeks ending Aug. 12, 2018, to $1.8 billion, according to data from Chicago-based market research firm IRI.

Team Butter has been empowered by recent health studies about its benefits to set a pick on its margarine opponent and drive for the hoop. In the 52 weeks ending Aug. 12, 2018, dollar sales for butter jumped 5.8%, while unit sales rose 1.8%, Chicago-based market research firm IRI reported.