Led by Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker Joe Widmer, Widmer’s Cheese Cellars is celebrating its 100th anniversary by sticking with tradition.

Business as usual won’t cut it.

All three subcategories within the retail frozen novelties category posted dollar and unit sales gains.

Whether they are in search of energy or refreshment, consumers no longer need to wait for the coffee to brew or the tea bag to steep. 

A number of consumer-driven trends are wielding an impact on current rigid and flexible packaging within the dairy products arena.

Retail milk sales have soured of late. Dollar sales within the refrigerated milk category fell 1.5% to $14,274.0 million during the 52 weeks ending Nov. 28, 2021, according to data from Chicago-based market research firm IRI. Unit sales tumbled 4.6% to 4,736.1 million.

These days, a trip to the grocery store can be very expensive. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the food at home index rose 6.4% over the 12 months ending in November 2021 — the most significant 12-month increase since the period ending in December 2008.

The labor shortage across the U.S. manufacturing base is a worrisome reality for many industries, and the dairy processing industry is no exception. 

I am writing this column as 2021 nears its end and 2022 awaits on the horizon.

Flavors, colors, sweeteners, and inclusions might be the lead actors in dairy product productions. However, gums, stabilizers, and emulsifiers are the supporting actors that can make — or break — a performance.