During the height of the pandemic, interest in automation accelerated. Companies used automation to lower the density of workers on the plant floor and create a healthier environment. Now dairy companies are automating for high assured output, lower waste and the capacity to meet rising demand and changing market tastes.
My husband and I recently went grocery shopping together — a rare event — to purchase food and ingredients we needed for hosting a small cocktail party. We were in the cookie and cracker aisle when my husband spotted it: a brand of crackers touting “Plant Based” on the front panel of its packaging.
While traditional animal-derived dairy remains a popular consumer choice, producers are now faced with an exciting opportunity to capitalize on the growing popularity of vegan, vegetarian and flexitarian diets that are driving demand for plant-based dairy alternatives.