On both an industry-wide, and company level it's a new day for dairy. Companies are ushering in new generations of leadership and the industry is being shaped by a new era of consolidated players.

For the 10th annual Dairy 100, Dairy Foods solicited the top companies in the industry through emails, faxes, and phone calls. In cases where the company did not wish to divulge dairy-specific sales figures, estimates were made using financial report information, and industry experts. The sales figures are for dairy products or products dairies could make. That means juice and non-dairy creamers are counted, but pizzas, pickles and coffee are not.