Welcome to the dairy case, a round-up of what’s new this week in products, companies and marketing. In this issue: dairy prices,Dean Foods, Kraft Foods, Davisco, Foremost Farms, Perry's Ice Cream, DCI Cheese, Ehrmann, Santa Barbara Bayand more.

Welcome to Jim Carper's Dairy Case, a look at the new dairy products, companies and marketing efforts making the news.



DAIRY PRICES

Dairy Products Prices Highlights
  • Butter prices received for 25 kilogram and 68-pound boxes meeting United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grade AA standards averaged $1.89 per pound for the week ending Sept. 24. The United States price per pound decreased 4.8 cents from the previous week.
  • Cheddar Cheese prices received for U.S. 40-pound blocks averaged $1.80 per pound for the week. The price per pound decreased 1.5 cents from the previous week. The price for U.S. 500-pound barrels adjusted to 38% moisture averaged $1.77 per pound, down 1.2 cents from the previous week.
  • Dry Whey prices received for bag, tote, and tanker sales meeting USDA Extra Grade standards averaged 60.0 cents per pound for the week. The U.S. price per pound increased 1.0 cent from the previous week.
  • Nonfat Dry Milk prices received for bag, tote, and tanker sales meeting USDA Extra Grade or United States Public Health Service  Grade A standards averaged $1.54 per pound for the week. The U.S. price per pound increased 0.5 cent from the previous week.
All reports are available electronically on the NASS website.

DAIRY PROCESSORS

Dean Foods is McDonald's U.S. Supplier of the Year
McDonald's USA selected Dean Foods, a leading dairy supplier for many of McDonald's restaurants, as the 2011 U.S. Supplier of the Year. The foodservice giant said Dean Foods won the Supplier of the Year Award for implementing innovative products, initiating management programs, including playing a leading role in corporate quality assurance, and the development of long-term sustainability technologies. This is the first time Dean Foods has been honored as McDonald's Supplier of the Year.

McDonald's presents the award annually to the food, paper or product supplier that makes the most significant impact on, and contribution to, McDonald's U.S. business results from the previous year. The award criteria include commitment to quality and food safety, product, equipment and process innovation, exemplary customer service and value.

Davisco's Cheese Shoppe Introduces New  Sandwich
Friendly Confines Cheese Shoppe, a division of Davisco Foods International, introduced a new sandwich named after Chicago's Wrigley Field, which sells a variety of baseball-themed pizza specials. The Catcher's Mitt sandwich is made with German pretzel-bread, tomato sauce, award- winning cheeses and a variety of fresh toppings. The shop is in Le Sueur, Minn.

The Friendly Confines Cheese Shoppe, which opened in December 2009, not only offers hot pizza and sandwiches, but it also offers cheeses from all over the world.

Foremost Farms Backs Dairy Bill
Foremost Farms USA has announced its support for a bipartisan bill in the House of Representatives that would reform the federal dairy program. The “Dairy Security Act of 2011,” introduced Friday by Representatives Collin Peterson (D-MN), and Mike Simpson (R-ID), refocuses dairy policy to protect farmers’ margins, rather than the current approach focusing on farm-level milk prices.

 “Today’s program no longer serves the best interests of producers and will not survive in its present form, given the pressure on the federal budget,” said Dave Fuhrmann, president. “The comprehensive reforms offered by Representatives Peterson and Simpson are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enact a new approach that better protects dairy farmers, allows for growth, assures consumers an abundant supply of milk, and saves taxpayers dollars.”

 “For these reasons, Foremost Farms strongly supports the Peterson-Simpson bill. It is the best path forward for dairy programs in the years ahead,” Fuhrmann said. Foremost Farms is a member of the National Milk Producers Federation, the national dairy farmer organization that helped developed the reform concepts contained in the Dairy Security Act.

Introduced in the House of Representatives on Sept. 23, the Dairy Security Act incorporates the key elements of a dairy reform proposal initially developed by NMPF’s member cooperatives, including Foremost Farms. And like the most recent version of the NMPF plan, the Peterson-Simpson bill allows farmers to choose between receiving a basic level of government-sponsored financial protection, or opting out of that protection if they choose.




DAIRY MARKETING

Perry's Ice Cream Re-launches Buffalo Bills Brownie Blitz
Perry's Ice Cream's Buffalo Bills Brownie Blitz (French vanilla ice cream with laces of fudge and brownie pieces) is being re-launched to reflect the new helmet design of the NFL football team the Buffalo Bills.  
"When the new Bills look was released this summer, we quickly noticed the fans affection towards the new helmet. We decided the helmet had to be central to our package re-design. The vintage design mixed with the charging Buffalo makes for a bold look on our package that screams, 'Go Bills!'" said Nichole Buryta, assistant product manager, Perry's Ice Cream. 

To celebrate the re-launch, fans can snap a photo with the new Brownie Blitz Bills carton, upload to the "Bills Photo Blitz" tab on the Perry's Facebook page and enter to win weekly prizes of Bills Mini Helmets and Perry's Coupon Packs (sweepstakes valid through Oct. 24).

The grand prize winner will receive an ice cream social with five friends and a Buffalo Bills player or alumni at the Bills headquarters, a prize pack and a behind-the-scenes tour of the football facilities.

King’s Choice Specialty Cheeses Unveils A New Contest
The DCI Cheese Co.'s “Always a Winner” is an enter-to-win contest awarding one grand prize of a $2,000 Vegas.com gift card that can be used to pay for lodging, dining, tickets to shows and more in Las Vegas. The contest is sponsored by King’s Choice, DCI's line of imported Danish, Dutch and German cheeses. In-store shelf talkers featuring contest information and a coupon can be found in participating retailers throughout the Oct. 1 to Nov. 30 contest.
Consumers with smart phones can connect directly to the promotion’s website (www.KingsChoiceCheese.com) for recipes and wine pairings via the promotional display’s QR code. This website will also feature an online entry form and rules detailing the specifics of the contest, as well as a slot machine-styled game that further emphasizes the promotion’s Las Vegas theme.

Cheese Carver to Sculpt Mammoth-Sized Cheese at Local Sam’s Club
“The Cheese Lady,” also known as Sarah Kaufmann, a Guinness Book of World Records holder,  is Tulsa, Okla., to carve so-called "works of art" into a 500-pound Wisconsin Cheddar wheel at the new Sam’s Club in West Tulsa Hills. Kaufmann is demonstrating her skills through Oct. 1.




DAIRY PRODUCTS

Ehrmann Launches Bavarian Yogurt in New England
Ehrmann USA's all-natural lowfat Bavarian yogurt is available in supermarkets throughout the New England and Upstate New York areas. The  yogurt is made in Brattleboro, Vt., from family recipes. Packaged in 5.3 ounce cups that feature a dual-chamber to allow for a blend of yogurt and real fruit, each variety contains 150 calories or less. 7 grams of protein per serving and 1.5 grams of total fat. It is free of artificial preservatives, additives, colors or sweeteners and is available in the following flavors: blackberry-pomegranate, blueberry, cherry, peach and strawberry.

It is sold in Hannaford and Price Chopper stores in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Upstate New York and Vermont.  The company says it will be available soon in Shaw's, Tops and other grocers.

The Greek Gods Greek-Style Yogurt Launches New Flavors in Canada
Hain-Celestial Canada, a division of The Hain Celestial Group, added two new flavors to its product line of The Greek Gods traditional Greek-style yogurt--Honey Vanilla and Honey Strawberry. The two new flavors are available at Loblaw's and Whole Foods Market, along with Traditional Plain Organic yogurt and Honey yogurt.

Santa Barbara Bay Promotes New Dip  With Social Media
Santa Barbara Bay is using Facebook and Twitter to promote its new Buffalo Blue Cheese Dip.
“Our unique combination of the heat of the hot sauce and cayenne pepper, the tangy blue cheese and the coolness of the sour cream brings a taste consumers love, plus added convenience, with its pre-packaged and ready-to-serve container,” said Emily Alfano, director of marketing and new product development of Future Food Brands. “This launch coincides perfectly with football season and tailgating, as this product pairs perfectly as a dipper for wings.”

By logging onto the company's Facebook and Twitter pages (facebook.com/santabarbarabay and twitter.com/SantaBarbaraBay), users can enter contests and stay up to date with the latest announcements, tips, news and recipes.

U.S. Cheeses Can Vie for World Cheese Awards
Dozens of artisan cheese makers from the United States are currently eyeing their best wheels, chunks and wedges in anticipation of entering the 2011 World Cheese Awards, to be held this fall in Birmingham, England, according to the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC). Entry deadline is Oct. 14.

USDEC is doing its part to encourage stateside participation by sponsoring a trophy for the “Best U.S. Cow’s Milk Cheese,” a special recognition for the top-placing American cheese. USDEC sponsorship, supported by U.S. dairy producers through their checkoff program, along with other USDEC market development programs and activities, help drive global demand for U.S. cheese and other dairy products by enhancing the quality image of U.S. supply in overseas markets.

“When artisan cheesemakers bring home gold medals it provides a halo effect on the reputation of our cheese industry,” says Angélique Hollister, director of cheese and manufactured products, USDEC. “That provides a boost to the efforts of all U.S. cheesemakers who are engaged in the global market.”

The entry cost for one cheese is $47. U.S. cheese makers need to fill out an online entry form, pay the entry fee and get the cheese sample to the appointed consolidator in the United States. Event organizers then cover the cost of shipping from the point of consolidation to the U.K. Enter online.

Kraft Recalls Velveeta Shells & Cheese SKUs
Kraft Foods Global is voluntarily recalling three varieties of Velveeta Shells & Cheese Single Serve Microwaveable Cups with limited "best when used by" dates as a precaution due to the possible presence of small, thin wire bristle pieces.  There have been no reports of consumer injuries or complaints. Approximately 137,000 cases of the affected products were shipped to customers across the United States. The affected products were not distributed in Canada. The affected products were manufactured in Champaign, Ill., Lakeville, Minn.




DAIRY CALENDAR

  • Oct. 19.  “Real Achievements to a More Sustainable Dairy Sector.” International Dairy Federation  World Dairy Summit. Parma, Italy. More information.
  • Dec. 7. U.S. Dairy Export Council Global Dairy Outlook: 2012. Free webinar. Register.
  • Jan. 15 to 18, 2012. Dairy Forum 2012. La Quinta Resort and Club in La Quinta, Calif. Register online.
  • Feb. 28 to  March 1, 2012. Structural Packaging Summit & Expo. Renaissance World Golf Village Resort, St. Augustine, Fla. Register online.
  • May 7 to 9, 2012. Food Packaging & Technologies Summit & Expo. The Westin Chicago Northwest, Itasca, Ill. Register online.

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