Sarah M. Kennedy

As noted in the nondairy beverage article in our May issue, consumers are seeking functional and no-sugar-added options for beverages — and some juice segments are taking a hit in sales because of it. Sales are down in orange, apple and juice/drink smoothies segments, but ticking up in refrigerated lemonade, fruit drinks and vegetable juice blends.

Growing consumer demand for natural and clean-label products has sparked a movement in the food industry. Specialty and organic retailers are on the rise and mainstream retailers are putting more natural and organic products on the shelf.

Chobani’s mission has been clear from the start: make better food for more people. It emphasizes that just as much today as when the company was founded by chairman and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya in 2007.

In 2016, to accommodate its growth, Norwich, N.Y.-based Chobani invested $100 million to complete a 300,000-square-foot expansion to its manufacturing facility in Twin Falls, Idaho. Now totally 1,000,000 square feet, the plant (which opened in 2013) is said to be the largest yogurt manufacturing facility in the world.

A fair amount of shrink sleeves are entering into beverage and dairy, according to Avery Dennison, Glendale, Calif. Shrink sleeve technology lends itself to customizing and seasonal promotions. Shrink sleeves can also be designed to cover caps, adding a measure of safety and tamper resistance.

Consumers are guzzling the drinkable cultured dairy options — sales for refrigerated kefir products and shelf-stable yogurt drinks are on the rise. Sales for sour cream are also up. Meanwhile, sales for regular yogurt and cream cheese have dropped.

Several trends are growing within the cultured dairy market, specifically with yogurt. Manufacturers are capitalizing on the clean eating movement as cultured products that are functional, whole milk, grass fed and lower in sugar are becoming more popular. Flavor mash-ups (including sweet heat, inclusions or pairings), snacking options and yogurt drinks are also helping to expand the consumer base.