Guest Blogger | Dairy Foods Blog

Good-bye to bad bugs

Prevent Listeriosis through smarter testing

A test from 3M Molecular Detection System uses a combination of LAMP and bioluminescence detection technologies, resulting in a simpler, more robust DNA amplification and detection method.

June 18, 2013

Dairy foods processors must be especially diligent in their efforts to combat Listeria, as it has been found in pasteurized or unpasteurized milk products, including soft cheeses made such as queso fresco, Brie, Feta and Camembert.

H2O-co-nut

Is coconut water just a fad or is it a sustainable ingredient?

We are growing demand for coconut water. The ultimate goal is to capture all the water that is out there.

June 11, 2013

Coconut water: Is it just a fad or is it a sustainable ingredient? It’s currently in vogue but I believe that the industry can make this product as much a staple as jeans are to fashion. I will make the case that coconut water is here to stay.

The times are a changin'

Part Two of 'Redefining Reality.' Delivering high growth in uncertain times

Look around the world at products and process innovations and you’ll find insights and ideas that you can use in your own market.

Michael Zacka

June 7, 2013

There are five fundamental trends that can reshape corporate success and sustainable profit growth. They are: Speed, Age, Glocal, Uncertainty and Innovation. It is clear to me that they are interrelated and must be taken as a whole to sustain profitable growth in this new age.

Management by paying attention

Redefining reality and delivering high growth in uncertain times

Companies that redefined their current realities boosted their competitive advantage.

Michael Zacka

June 5, 2013

I’ve noticed five underlying trends that are reshaping ‘reality’ for all businesses and are critical to our ability to sustain profitability and growth. Recognizing them gives us the capability to use them—now and when those proverbial opportunities present themselves. They are as follows:

Sticking to Trends

How to Stay Ahead of the Labeling Curve in 2013

An executive from a packaging association discusses trends in labels.

Julie Ackerman

May 24, 2013

Labels offer a wealth of untapped potential for manufacturers. In PMMI’s 2012 Trends in Labeling market research study, manufacturers from a variety of industries, including dairy, discussed some of the opportunities and challenges encountered when looking for innovative branding solutions.

Raising the bar on ice cream novelties

We so loved the Big Bar from Kent’s Ice Cream that we bought the business and moved to Wisconsin.

Tom and Kathy Truhlar

May 13, 2013

Our love affair with Kent’s Ice Cream of Fort Atkinson, Wis., started in the early 1990s just after we had purchased a classic car that needed work.

Regulations

Processors still unsure of FSMA implications

A new survey by iRely shows that most companies are still unaware of how the changes will affect them

May 8, 2013

Most process manufacturing organizations are unaware or uncertain at how the stricter regulations will affect their production processes. This is the finding of a new study of food and beverage manufacturing professionals across the county. Conducted by iRely, a leading provider of process manufacturing and commodity trading software, survey data confirms that while food & beverage manufacturing leaders are mostly aware of the new requirements, they are still getting up to speed with the necessary changes.

Be the best at asset management

As a business owner, do you truly believe that employees are your most valuable asset? Are those words on a plaque or a vital element of your corporate culture?

Ted Castle

April 30, 2013

Employees are our most valuable asset. Do you have this claim on a plaque in the main entrance of your business? Do you really believe this?

Tattoo who?

Tattoos and botox bind the generations

Millennials and the baby boomers are strongly bound together by the demographic trends they've fueled, starting with smaller households as Millennials postpone marriage and/or childbearing and Boomers divorce at an ever-growing rate.

Michael Zacka

April 12, 2013

What do botox and tattoos have to do with marketing and packaging of dairy foods and beverages? At first glance, not much. But stick with this essay about the baby boomers and their children, and the connection becomes clear.

Consumer trends

Cheese fits with consumers’ habits

Whether snacking or dining, Americans seek foods that are minimally processed and highly nutritious.

April 1, 2013

Today and looking to the future, consumers’ focus on health and wellness presents opportunities for cheese. The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy spotlighted the following four opportunities for cheese manufacturers.