It has been a very, very good year for cheese, at least within the major retail channels. Dollar sales within the natural cheese category shot up 17.0% to $15,449.5 million during the 52 weeks ending Oct. 4, 2020, according to data from Chicago-based market research firm IRI.

The cultured dairy segment has been tossing multiple balls in the air in an effort to meet numerous, and sometimes seemingly conflicting, consumers trends. This balancing act has been delivering mixed results for the categories within the segment.

The last year or so might have found some players in the retail butter and butter blends category exclaiming, "It's a jungle out there!" Why? Because certain players in the margarine and spreads subcategory used innovation and questionable marketing (Country Crock "plant butter" - seriously?) to lure consumers and intimidate genuine butter brands.

After seeing declines year after year, the milk category (at least at retail) now seems to be pulling rabbits out of a hat. Dollar sales in the overall category rose 7.8% to $16,330.1 million during the 52 weeks ending Sept. 6, 2020, according to data from Chicago-based market research firm IRI.

The dairy industry has been facing a variety of challenges this year, most notably, the COVID-19 pandemic. Dairy Foods asked the top executives of leading dairy associations to discuss the industry's more significant issues, as well as its greatest opportunities.

Each year, Dairy Foods takes a deep dive into trends (both current and emerging), as well as opportunities and challenges, within a variety of dairy-product and related segments. The result is our annual State of the Industry report, published in our November issue.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit back in March, life for most Americans took a sharp detour from business as usual. Among other practices, the "new normal" brought with it the social distancing, mask wearing and sharp increase in at-home food preparation that continue to this day.

Richmond, Utah, is not exactly what one would call a metropolis, it boasts a population of fewer than 3,000 people. Despite its small status, however, the rural town has earned some decidedly big bragging rights.

Casper Merrill did not invent the frozen novelty. Christian Kent Nelson, a high school teacher who lived in Iowa, is credited with that achievement, creating a stickless product dubbed the “I Scream Bar” in 1920.

The retail ready-to-drink (RTD) tea and coffee category found itself in a good news/bad news situation over the past year.