In the cold of winter, Dairy Foods transports you to the warmth of the Florida Panhandle for Processor and Inside the Plant profiles on Southern Craft Creamery. Our Outlook Report discusses the importance of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, while dairy ingredient suppliers highlight their latest innovations in Gums, Emulsifiers, and Stabilizers. Lastly, we scrutinize X-ray, Metal, and Inspection Systems designed to keep dairy products safe, while our Showcases feature Cheese ingredients and Cheesemaking Equipment.
Under the ice cream/sherbet category, ice milk/frozen dairy desserts and sherbet/sorbet/ices are all posting solid growth in both dollars (10% growth) and units (3% gain), IRI data reports. Nestlé saw sales increase a whopping 1,632% to $25 million; Blue Bunny, generated 78% YoY growth to $29 million; and Friendly’s grew its sales to $10 mllion, with a 34% YoY gain.
Dairy products strengthen health, while plant-based given edge in sustainability. Dairy products contain high-quality proteins — whey and casein — and the biological value of them is very high. Yet, consumer research shows that there is a difference in how consumers perceive sustainability between products.
Manufacturers continue to ensure the safety of infant formula, while creating a product more like breast milk. Abbott, Mead Johnson, and Gerber are the top major brand manufacturers of infant formula. Perrigo, a private-label manufacturer, plans to purchase Nestlé’s Gateway plant, increasing its production capacity from 29 million pounds to 36 million pounds annually.
It is not too late to implement a diversity, equity, and inclusion plan, which can yield tremendous benefits for any company. In Dairy Foods' first cover story on this topic, learn from strategies enacted by Danone North America, Tetra Pak, Tillamook County Creamery Association, MilkPEP and more on how diverse teams help foster connection and growth.