With the exception of unexpected rainy and dreary weather in Arizona throughout, the International Dairy Foods Association’s (IDFA) Dairy Forum at the JW Marriott in Phoenix was an incredible event.

Amazingly, I attended the event for the first time in late January and was able to network with many processors, trade association executives and more during events including a Women in Dairy reception and a cocktail reception. I thank everyone for taking their time out to talk to me about the industry.

Beyond these networking moments, I learned several things while I was there too. In honor of awards season wrapping up, instead of writing several long stories about what took place during the education sessions, I am going to utilize this space this month to present just a few of topics broached at Dairy Forum, presented a in a “fast-food,” tidbit style. Please keep in mind these ideas of those of the speakers and I cannot take credit for any of them. Check www.dairyfoods.com for more Dairy Forum coverage.

“Elevated Leadership”

Doug Conant, former CEO of Campbell Soup Co., described how he turned the company into a successful business and what he learned along the way.

• Pursue becoming the best version of yourself. “I don’t want to say parenting is the perfect version of leading, but it is heading in the right direction.”
• “Be tender-hearted with people. Start the day with something positive.”
• “Be relentless in your pursuit of doing better.”
• “Win in the workplace. Win the marketplace. Win the community.”
• “You have three years to turn something around. The first year is someone else’s fault. Year 2 you are making progress. Year 3: You own it.”

“Holistic Leadership Strategies”

Former Google executive Ginny Clarke offered a unique look at employment and workforce development. 

• “One in four people dread going into work every day. Employee engagement is at an all-time low.”
• “The top five reasons employees quit: Lack of career development and advancement; inadequate total compensation; uncaring or uninspiring leaders; lack of meaningful work; unsustainable work expectations.”
• “Develop a mindset about talent. Stop hiring based upon what makes us comfortable. It is about skills plus knowledge, plus ability.”
• “You cannot just hire a chief diversity officer. Diversity begins with an open mindset and everyone taking responsibility for it.”
• “Human consciousness beats out AI (artificial intelligence) every day.”
• “Get over the need to be liked and we will make great decisions.”
• “Tell the truth from a place of empathy.”
• “Have zero tolerance for bad behavior.”

“The Next 730 Days for Dairy: Trends and Drivers Shaping Tomorrow”

This panel session featured a discussion for what the dairy industry might look like for the next two years. Speakers were Daragh Maccabee, CEO of Idaho Milk Products; Kristina Cole, chief commercial/customer officer, Danone North America; Terry Brockman, senior vice president, Dairy Procurement, Ingredients and Industry Affairs; Saputo Dairy Division USA; and Yin Woon Rani, CEO, MilkPEP.

Maccabee: “Dairy plays a role in weight management and health.”

Cole: “34 million in the U.S. do not have access to high quality nutrition.”

Regarding sustainability: 

Maccabee: “Sustainability is everything. We have to think 100 years into the future….The USA can be the most sustainable country in the world.”

Brockman: “Promoting and marketing sustainability is still a work in progress. We need to make more cheese with less raw materials.”

Regarding workforce:

Maccabee: “We are connecting with high schools and linking to mentoring and community colleges. We are educating guidance counselors about the dairy industry.”

Cole: “People under 40 are looking for flexibility. We need to reevaluate that. We started offering paternal leave of six months, which is a way to retail or attract talent.”

Rani: “Dairy has to be seen as welcoming to a diverse group of people. They are the future.”

Brockman: “Care about your people, their development and growth. If you truly believe in a person, they will not leave.”

“The World of ‘Ands’ in Consumer Trends and Business Imperatives

This session was led by McKinsey & Co.’s Sajal Kohli, who explained that people are making healthy choices while also seeking convenience. “Is there a sweet spot?” he asked. “…67% of dairy executives have allocated funds to sustainability/ESG (environmental, social, governance) programs.

Kohli added that only 16% of consumers are willing to pay for sustainably sourced materials, but most like products that carry organic claims. 

The McKinsey executive then convened a panel discussion featuring Organic Valley’s Chief Brand Officer Jaclyn Cardin; Michigan Milk Producers Association CEO Joe Diglio; Kristi Jankowski, executive vice president of innovation, Sargento Foods Inc.; and Karen Lancelle, senior vice president, supply chain management, Schreiber Foods Inc.

Here are some of the highlights from the panelist discussion:

Cardin: 

• Consumers are looking for affordability as inflation exists. 
• “We are focused on coop farmers. We only have one planet.”
• “Sustainability has been core to organic valley for 35 years.”
• “We have to get on offense. Plant-based has had a good sustainability message. They have plenty of influencers.”

Jankowski: 

• “Sargento has always been a convenient brand. We are solving a lot in snacks and meals.”
• “Packaging is a big part of sustainability.”
• “Cheese alternatives have not stacked up nutritionally.”

Lancelle:

• Dairy is “Food as Medicine.”
• “Dairy is growing and consumers are seeing it as part of a healthy diet.”
• “We need to continue to make dairy affordable.”

Diglio:

• “We need to do a better job of promoting dairy’s benefits….We should capitalize on nutritional value.”
• “We need research to be available to consumers about dairy’s benefits. We need to broaden our voice.”
• However, Diglio did note the dairy industry has done many good things. “We do not need to stop. Butter is a great example of something consumers used to consider to not be healthy.”
• “When you think of resiliency, you have to think of a farmer.”