Greek yogurt is dominating the cultured dairy category and has pushed conventional yogurt to the forefront. Other food processors use the cultured products as ingredients in snacks and cereals, and consumers use the yogurts in recipes.
Greek yogurt is leading the way in new product innovations and helping to keep yogurt on everyone’s radar. Processors continue to introduce new yogurt flavors in Greek and regular, and many are finding new ways to incorporate yogurt into other foods.
Yogurt is a bright star in the dairy firmament, and brands are seizing the opportunity. Chobani took to the air with television ads during the Oscar ceremonies. Muller Quaker Dairy expands distribution into the Midwest and Southeast.
April 15, 2013
Everybody loves yogurt: dairy farmers, dairy processors, industry vendors, retailers and consumers. Yogurt production in the United States rose 4.2% from 2011 to 2012, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Consumers are embracing a wide variety of money-saving strategies, states Chicago-based market researcher SymphonyIRI Group in its new report, “2012 CPG Year in Review: Finding the New Normal.”
In January, products from the Coleman Dairy division were changed to the Hiland label.
April 12, 2013
The Roberts Dairy brand will be discontinued in May when the dairy's milk and dairy products will be marketed under the Hiland Dairy Foods label. In a statement, Hiland said "the move will solidify the synergy between two of the country’s finest dairy producers, under one name."
Milk consumption in Chinese urban areas is 4.5 times higher than in rural areas. With the increasing urban population and the rapidly growing middle class, milk consumption is expected to further grow.
April 10, 2013
At this year’s China Dairy Symposium, the discussion was about how the Chinese dairy market can satisfy the increasing demand for milk, which will continue to outpace domestic supply.
In New Zealand, schools collect empty milk packs, which are then recycled into books, roof tiles and other items.
April 9, 2013
Hundreds of blue recycling bins are heading to New Zealand's South Island to be delivered to schools joining the Fonterra Milk for Schools program.
Almost 3,000 recycling bins have been made so far by New Zealand manufacturer SULO Talbot, which is providing discounted bins made of up to 60% recycled milk bottles for Fonterra’s nationwide school milk program.
Milk supplies remain heavy in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
April 8, 2013
Milk handling over the holiday weekend went along planned schedules with processing plants on active duty with auxiliary plants being brought into action. Cheese production levels across the country were mixed this week. Production in the Midwest remains strong as larger milk supplies and good component levels add to inventories.
Milk production is one element of the monthly Milk Production report that NASS suspended last month to meet sequestration requirements.
April 3, 2013
USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service will provide an estimate of U.S. milk production each month through September, 2013, which is the end of Federal Fiscal Year 2013. The agency will use only various sources of administrative data to establish the monthly milk production estimates rather than incorporating information from the two remaining quarterly producer surveys, as is presently done.
Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales was 64% during 2012, compared to 67% in 2011.
April 2, 2013
Lifeway Foods Inc., (Nasdaq: LWAY), said its gross sales increased 16% for the year ended Dec. 31, 2012. Sales totaled approximately $89.8 million compared to $77.1 million in 2011.
The Kraft brand donates $1 every time someone shares a video.
March 28, 2013
Every time someone shares a Philadelphia Cream Cheese video on Facebook or Twitter, the Kraft Foods brand will donate $1 (up to $50,000) to Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign.