Dairy Forum ’06
Global growth takes center stage.
The dairy industry once
again took time to honor its highest achievers while swapping ideas on how
to best tackle the future at the annual Dairy Forum last month in La
Quinta, Calif.
In her keynote address, Connie Tipton, president and
chief executive officer of the International Dairy Foods Association
(IDFA), addressed the “convergence of new leadership, new dynamics
and a new era for the dairy industry” while noting the changing of
the guard in chief executive posts at Land O’Lakes, Dairy Farmers of
America and Dean Foods’ Dairy Group, and crediting the retiring
leaders for industry advancements during their tenures.
“Now it’s on the shoulders of the people
in this room; we have the responsibility to continue that leadership and
growth,” Tipton said. “Fundamental shifts are already driving
the issues for this next generation.”
Tipton suggested three ways to take on the future:
plan and operate globally; keep the trust and wishes of the individual
consumer; and embrace the big idea, but commit to the small steps.
“The next great generation of dairy leaders will have to manage the
reality of a global marketplace,” she said.
While much of U.S. industry has been outsourcing tasks
to other nations, Tipton urged that the U.S. dairy industry become the
“in-source” for the world’s dairy needs. “We want
to be the place where multi-national companies locate their manufacturing
operations, where they’re drawing on our abundant, high-quality milk
supply,” she said.
The industry must continue to “push for
increased market access and a reduction in trade-distorting domestic
supports,” Tipton said. “And our own U.S. dairy policies must
set the tone to encourage development and innovation that will allow us to
compete in a global dairy economy.”
At Forum’s awards luncheon, Dairy Field presented its 2005
Processor of the Year Award to Yoplait-Colombo USA. David Jahn, key account
manager for Yoplait, accepted the award from DF editor James Dudlicek. (The
full story can be found in the November 2005 issue, available in our online
archive at www.dairyfield.com — Ed.)
IDFA awarded Paul Kruse, CEO and president of
Texas-based Blue Bell Creameries, with its 2006 Soaring Eagle Award,
recognizing those who have chaired IDFA, the International Ice Cream
Association (IICA), the Milk Industry Foundation (MIF) or the National
Cheese Institute (NCI).
The NCI Laureate Award went to Mark Davis, president
of Davisco Foods International, Le Sueur, Minn. This award recognizes
individuals who have made significant contributions to the U.S. cheese
industry.
KF Dairy of El Centro, Calif., was named the 2006
Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year, an award sponsored by IDFA and Dairy Today magazine. This
year’s award was a tribute to KF as well as its founder, Jim Kuhn,
who died last year in a car accident.
Sessions during the three-day forum included a CEO
panel, whose participants named health care and risk management among their
top concerns; and discussions about how dairy is holding up amid gains in
soy, the status of dairy-weight loss science, forward contracting, school
milk marketing and dealing with anti-dairy activists.
A complete transcript of Tipton’s remarks, along
with other Forum information, can be found at www.idfa.org.
Image makers
Product and promotion news
For more than 60 years, Curious George — the
original “monkey see, monkey do” chimp — has been
enchanting readers with his beloved, mischievous tales. Atlanta-based Carvel Ice Cream Corp. has
partnered with Universal Studios to promote George’s film debut.
Consumers purchasing select Carvel ice cream cakes from participating
supermarkets or a Curious George treat from a Carvel store have an instant
chance to win one of four prizes with the Curious George instant-win game
piece included in each product. Prizes include a grand prize for a trip for
four to a Universal Pictures World Premiere in Hollywood, Curious George
video games and gift packs of 4,000 Curious George bean-bag toys. The
sweepstakes runs through June 30.
Tetra Pak and the School Nutrition Association
have launched the SmartCarton Panel Program to teach children the importance of good nutrition through
fun educational activities. The SmartCarton Panel Program for school milk was designed to
tie in with the new federal law requiring every school district
participating in the National School Lunch or Breakfast Program to
establish a local wellness policy by the beginning of the 2006-07 school
year to offer students consistent nutrition messages throughout their
curriculum. The program, tailored for kids in kindergarten through sixth
grade, features activities, brainteasers and riddles on the side panels of
gable-top school milk cartons. Students can visit www.smartcarton.com to
check their answers to the quizzes, which are designed to teach students
about nutrition and wellness. Tetra Pak offers the SmartCarton® program
free of charge to participating dairies who supply schools with milk or
juice in Tetra Pak gable-top cartons.
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