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.

Nondairy beverages mainly painted on smiles this year. Ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee was the master of ceremonies at retail, shining in both the shelf-stable cappuccino/iced coffee and refrigerated coffee segments.

Americans' love affair with cheese is defying gravity. According to Chicago-based market research firm IRI, over the 52 weeks ending Sept. 6, 2020, natural cheese retail sales were swinging high through the air.

Retail ice cream sales might not have being eating fire this year, but they certainly have been on fire. Over the 52 weeks ending Sept. 6, 2020, dollar sales in the ice cream subcategory of the larger ice cream/sherbet category were up 13.4% (to $6,841.8 million).

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

When the pandemic hit back in March, many consumers started loading up their pantries. That practice has benefitted a number of retail food and nonfood segments.

It's a sweet state of affairs for the retail ice cream/sherbet category. Dollar sales jumped 7.6% to $7,298.8 million during the 52 weeks ending May 17, 2020, according to data from Chicago-based market research firm IRI.