Articles by Brian Berk

Dairy Foods names New York City-based Chobani LLC as its 2024 Processor of the Year, honoring the company’s impressive humanitarian efforts, its entrance into new dairy and non-dairy markets, and its tremendous growth.

I would like to start by congratulating Chobani LLC as the 2024 Dairy Foods Processor of the Year recipient. The company has revolutionized Greek yogurt in the North American market and has been at the forefront of the health of wellness trend. 

Kwee Choo Ng, regional product manager, Rice Ingredients and Functional Proteins, North America, at BENEO, joins Dairy Foods for Episode 47 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast, where she addresses ingredient reduction and “free from.”

There are sunny skies regarding dairy butter. The subcategory’s dollar sales jumped by 4% YoY to $5.1 billion, while unit sales increased a similar 3% YoY to 984 million.

Sales in the beverages category are mixed year-over-year (YoY), but there are plenty signs of strength. Declining subcategories certainly did not take it on the chin, perhaps a good sign for the industry.

Overall, ice cream/sherbet sales rose by 3% year over (YoY) to $8.6 billion for the 52 weeks ending Aug. 11, according to Chicago-based market research firm Circana. Unit sales picked up 0.5% YoY to 1.84 billion.

Queens and Staten Island merged with New York City. The Bronx Zoo opened. The inventor of basketball, Dr. James Naismith, was coaching Kansas University’s new basketball team. AND in 1899, Dairy Foods (via its predecessor Dairy Record) was established. 

On Sept. 23, Danone offered to pay some $283 million — $25 per share — to purchase the 76.6% of Lifeway Foods it didn't own. The plan was rejected.CEO Julie Smolyansky talks about the company's history and success with Dairy Foods.

The battle of dairy versus plant-based products continues to intensify with recent campaigns featuring celebrities on both sides of the coin. The “Got Milk?,” “Milk Does a Body Good” and newer campaigns have faced competition from “Ditch Milk” and other anti-milk advertising efforts. 

Although eCommerce may not be for all dairy processors, it can definitely be an option for additional revenues. In fact, Euromonitor International reported the number of Americans utilizing online grocery services skyrocketed from 13% before the pandemic to some 26% in 2022.