Kathie Canning

State of the Industry 2017: Ice cream makes a comeback

Riding a two-year growth wave and boasting a slew of innovative new products, the ice cream segment takes the title of MOST OPTIMISTIC in dairy’s class of 2017.

Kathie Canning

November 8, 2017

Ice cream's recent comeback — which began in earnest last year — shows no signs of waning. Retail sales of ice cream in the United States rose a respectable 3.9% to $6.1 billion during the 52 weeks ending Aug. 6, 2017, according to data from Chicago-based Information Resources Inc. (IRI). Unit sales climbed 2.6% to 1.6 billion.

Dairy processors should target the powerful millennial demographic; here's why

Kathie Canning

November 3, 2017

If you’re tired of hearing about millennials, I can’t say I blame you. A new millennial-related report, study or news item seems to come out on a daily basis. (I’m sure the Greatest Generation felt the same way about all of the baby boomer coverage way back when!)

State of the Industry 2017: Milk is on tend and getting word out

State of the Industry 2017: Milk is on trend and getting the word out

The milk sector earns the class of 2017’s MOST AMBITIOUS honors as it taps into trends in an attempt to reverse a multi-year decline in consumption.

Kathie Canning

November 2, 2017

It's no secret that per-capita liquid milk consumption has been on the decline in the United States for many years. In fact, Americans consumed 93 pounds less of the dairy beverage in 2016 than they did in 1976, according to data from the USDA.

RTD tea and coffee post healthy dollar and unit sales

Refrigerated tea and refrigerated ready-to-drink coffee post healthy dollar and unit sales gains.

Kathie Canning

October 9, 2017

You’ll find no signs of a cool-down for the red-hot refrigerated coffee and tea segment. Refrigerated ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee and refrigerated tea both saw significant dollar and unit sales gains during the 52 weeks ending July 9, 2017, according to data from Chicago-based market research firm Information Resources Inc. (IRI).

Meet the milk marketing masters

The winners in the inaugural Milk Marketer of the Year awards program expertly elevated MilkPEP’s programs to ignite milk sales at the local or regional level.

Kathie Canning

October 6, 2017

The call for entries for the first-ever Milk Marketer of the Year competition, a joint awards program from Dairy Foods and the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP), drew an impressive assortment of entries.

Co-packing is a thriving sector

Many respondents to Dairy Foods’ exclusive contract manufacturing survey expect their co-packing needs — or services — to increase in the next two years.

Kathie Canning

October 2, 2017

Some dairy plants can’t keep up with growing sales, while others find themselves with excess capacity. Contract manufacturing is proving to be a boon to both.

Dairy processors can work to allay consumers' GMO fears

Kathie Canning

October 2, 2017

Two weeks into my new gig I came across a press release announcing the National Milk Producers Federation’s (NMPF) Peel Back the Label campaign. The new campaign aims to highlight the need for truth and transparency in food marketing.

Exclusive Dairy Foods survey: Contract manufacturing in growth mode

Many respondents to Dairy Foods’ exclusive contract manufacturing survey expect their co-packing needs — or services — to increase in the next two years.

Kathie Canning

September 25, 2017

Many respondents to Dairy Foods’ exclusive contract manufacturing survey expect their co-packing needs — or services — to increase in the next two years.