2024 November

Our pivotal State of the Industry issue is here and with data from market research firms, we highlight whether it’s a torrential downpour or sunny skies for milk, ice cream and frozen novelties, cheese, yogurt and cultured dairy, butter, nondairy beverages, ingredients and exports. As Dairy Foods celebrates its milestone 125^th anniversary, we got into the archives and showcase historic achievements. In a special Suppliers’ Section, our suppliers weigh in on their own innovations. We also talk to CEO Julie Smolansky and delve into how Lifeway Foods is orchestrating growth in plant-based kefir.

Celebrating 125 years of Dairy Foods

We take a look back at the dairy industry since the magazine’s founding in 1899.

Barbara Harfmann

Brian Berk

November 6, 2024

Queens and Staten Island merged with New York City. The Bronx Zoo opened. The inventor of basketball, Dr. James Naismith, was coaching Kansas University’s new basketball team. AND in 1899, Dairy Foods (via its predecessor Dairy Record) was established.

State of the Industry: Refrigerated beverages sales percolate

Bottled juices, RTD coffee/tea and aseptic juices see year-over-year sales declines, however.

Chloe Alverson

Brian Berk

November 20, 2024

What is going on in the beverage segment? Like several other categories, overall, the skies are cloudy, with little rain predicted. Sales in the vast category are mixed year-over-year (YoY), but there are plenty signs of strength. Declining subcategories certainly did not take it on the chin, perhaps a good sign for the industry.

A sunny outlook for U.S. dairy

United States is on track for record cheese exports in 2024.

Nate Donnay

November 26, 2024

The outlook for U.S. dairy products in 2025 varies by product. The two with the most-clear trajectories are cheese and skim powders (nonfat dry milk (NFDM)/skim milk powder (SMP)).

State of the Industry: Butter category has its ups and downs

Dairy butter sales enjoy a solid year, but other subsegments are not as smooth.

Brian Berk

November 20, 2024

The weather can be crazy sometimes. For example, sometimes it can look sunny when facing the north and partly cloudy in the south, but there are menacing storm clouds to the west.

State of the Industry: Cultured Dairy eclipses dairy industry with protein-packed nutrition

Yogurt, cottage cheese drive sales due to health and wellness benefits.

Barbara Harfmann

November 18, 2024

On April 8, something miraculous occurred in the United States that only happens every 18-plus years — a total solar eclipse. St. Louis, Southern Illinois, and Waco, Texas, were among the prime viewing locations for the path of totality.

Dairy Foods’ 125th Anniversary

125 Years of Dairy Progress

Douglas J. Peckenpaugh

November 1, 2024

American life in the 1800s looked vastly different than today. Thanks to the Industrial Revolution, the 1800s saw the newly established United States of America expand from a largely agrarian society to an industrial powerhouse.

State of the Industry: Ingredient suppliers focus on health and wellness

Processors are incorporating elements that cater to consumers’ health concerns.

Richard Mitchell

November 14, 2024

Like a powerful blizzard blasting the landscape, health and wellness is socking it to the dairy ingredients’ sector. But rather than snow, ice, and high winds pelting consumers, shoppers are facing a deluge of such positive elements as products that are low in sugar, high in protein, and those that contain prebiotics and probiotics.

State of the Industry: A sunny and bright outlook for cheese

With 0.5% growth, cheese category to churn out $69.7 billion by 2028

Barbara Harfmann

November 15, 2024

“Summer Sun, something’s begun” sings John Travolta (Danny Zuko) about his summer romance at the beach with Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) during the song “Summer Nights,” one of the many popular hit songs in the 1978 musical “Grease.”

The secret to Lifeway Foods’ success

The kefir processor has undergone tremendous growth, culminating in a bid by Danone to purchase the company.

Brian Berk

November 4, 2024

On Sept. 23, Danone offered to pay some $283 million — $25 per share — to purchase the 76.6% of Lifeway Foods it didn't own. The plan was rejected.CEO Julie Smolyansky talks about the company's history and success with Dairy Foods.

State of the Industry: Milk sales swirl like fall winds

Milk category declines 1.2%, but notches dollar sales of $19.6B

Barbara Harfmann

November 11, 2024

Market research firm Circana reports that the overall milk category, comprising refrigerated milk, refrigerated alternative milk, “all other” refrigerated milk, and non-dairy refrigerated milk, notched $19.6 billion in dollar sales at a slight 1.2% decrease over the prior year.

State of the Industry: Ice cream continues its ascent

Frozen novelty and dessert sales melt however.

Brian Berk

November 13, 2024

Last year in this feature, we stated ice cream and frozen novelties would have a difficult time matching a “Super Bowl champion”-level performance put forth by the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, which occurred for ice cream during the COVID-19 pandemic when consumers sought a home indulgence.

Pecan Deluxe Candy Co. has supplied inclusions for ice cream and dairy since transitioning from retail ice cream in 1950.

Dairy Foods special 125th anniversary supplier section

Several dairy suppliers and processors take a look back to the past as we celebrate our 125th anniversary

November 8, 2024

Although Dairy Foods’ 125-year anniversary is clearly a milestone, many industry suppliers have unique innovations that they share in this special Suppliers' Section.

On-Demand What if you could generate energy from your wastewater and meet your treatment requirements? We will cover different solutions for treating biological wastewater including methods for generating biogas, creating green energy, and reducing fresh water demand with solutions for water reuse.

On-Demand What is the latest going on in the dairy industry? This is your chance to hear an all-encompassing look at the latest trends, as well as look forward to the future. Dairy Foods will also provide a sneak peek of its industry-leading State of the Industry report during our special November 13th webinar.

Dairy Foods eMagazine

Cover Story

Celebrating 125 years of Dairy Foods

Foods & Beverages

State of the Industry: Refrigerated beverages sales percolate

A sunny outlook for U.S. dairy

State of the Industry: Butter category has its ups and downs

State of the Industry: Cultured Dairy eclipses dairy industry with protein-packed nutrition

Processors

Dairy Foods’ 125th Anniversary

Ingredients

State of the Industry: Ingredient suppliers focus on health and wellness

State of the Industry: A sunny and bright outlook for cheese

The secret to Lifeway Foods’ success

State of the Industry: Milk sales swirl like fall winds

State of the Industry: Ice cream continues its ascent

Operations

Dairy Foods special 125th anniversary supplier section

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