Latin American cheese production in the United States has seen substantial growth over the last decade. Driven by the increase in the Hispanic population in the United States, which is now over 55 million, as well as increased consumer interest in specialty cheese, production has increased from around 167 million pounds 10 years ago to around 254 million pounds in 2015.

Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream wants to make people happy with ice cream. The company set out to revive the classic American ice cream truck and the art of traditional ice cream making using only the highest-quality ingredients and no stabilizers. For the company, it’s about being authentic and making ice cream that is truly pure.

Exporter of British cheeses, Somerdale International, Wellington, Somerset, England, launched the first, fully accredited, non-GMO British cheese in the United States, according to the company.

The shelves are crowded in the frozen and refrigerated dessert cases at the grocery store. Not only do manufacturers of pies, cheesecakes and puddings have to deal with competition from each other, but ice cream, frozen yogurt, frozen novelties and even dessert-style yogurts are all competition.

Ice cream sales may be climbing (see our August issue), but sales for most frozen dessert segments took a beating. Unit sales of frozen cheesecakes, pudding/mousse and whip toppings all decreased. Meanwhile, frozen sweet goods sales ticked up.