Are kids ready for Trix in a glass? Bravo! Foods will launch Trix, Cocoa Puffs and Wheaties flavored milk drinks under a recently signed five-year trademark licensing agreement with General Mills Marketing.

Sales climbed 23% and earnings 63% for kefir maker Lifeway Foods Inc., during the fourth quarter of 2005.

Menniu, a leading dairy producer in China, is constructing a lactate milk factory in Ma'anshan City in East China's Anhui Province, reported to be the biggest liquid milk base in Asia.

A new vending technology that grabbed headlines last month could shorten the supply chain for ice cream by about 99%.

Parmalat Canada took three first place awards at the 5th Canadian Cheese Grand Prix held by the Dairy Farmers of Canada. Parmalat won first place in each of the Fresh Cheese categories for Feta (Black Diamond), the Medium Cheddar category for Balderson Medium, and Old and Extra Old Cheddar category for Balderson 5 Year Heritage Cheddar.

Nestle SA's Brazilian unit will spend $32.7 million to build a new milk-packaging facility in Rio Grande do Sul, according to media reports. The plant will process 1 million liters of milk per day.

Life Takes, Oakhurst Gives
Oakhurst Dairy honored its pledge again last year to give 10% of its pre-tax profits to help children and protect the environment.

As the 300,000 square ft. Southwest Cheese Plant, Clovis, N.M., phases in production this year, it will have a major impact on the local milk supply, and one that will ripple across the entire southwest region, according to a local news source.

More than 120 ice cream industry professionals gathered in Scottsdale, Ariz., last month to discuss technology, and honor the most exciting new ideas and one of the most respected industry veterans.

Organic Valley Family of Farms was recently presented the Earth Trustee Award by the Earth Society Foundation, an organization founded by Margaret Mead and John McConnell in 1976 to foster environmental projects that promote clean land, air and water.