Welcome to Jim Carper's Dairy Case, a look at the new dairy products, companies and marketing efforts making the news.
DAIRY PROCESSORS
Lifeway Foods 2Q Sales Up 28%Lifeway Foods Inc. a processor of cultured dairy products known as kefir and organic kefir, said second quarter (ended June 30) gross sales increased 28% to $19.9 million compared to $15.5 million for the second quarter of 2010. This increase is primarily attributable to increased sales and growing awareness of benefits of Lifeway's flagship line, Kefir, as well as ProBugs Organic Kefir for kids, and the successful introduction of new product lines such as Bio Kefir. Net sales increased $3.9 million, or approximately 27%, to $18.2 million from $14.3 million in the second quarter of 2010. Net sales are recorded as gross sales less promotional activities such as slotting fees paid, couponing, spoilage and promotional allowances as well as early payment terms given to customers.
Gross profit for the second quarter of 2011 decreased 3% to $5.3 million, primarily because of increased transportation and other petroleum based production supply costs, as well as the increased price of conventional milk.
Abbott Labs To Build Powdered Milk Plant In China
Abbott Laboratories said it will invest $230 million to build a state-of-the-art nutrition manufacturing facility in Jiaxing, China. The facility represents Abbott’s largest investment in China to date and will manufacture premium powdered milk products for Chinese infants and children.The company said it anticipates launching a number of new product innovations over the next three years across the pediatric nutrition category in China. More than 17 million infants are born each year in China. The plant, when operational in 2013, will employ approximately 300 people.
DAIRY PRODUCTS
New Flavored Butter from Land O’LakesLand O’Lakes, introduced Cinnamon Sugar Butter Spread – cinnamon and sugar blended into creamy, all-natural butter with no artificial ingredients. “We have seen growing popularity in the spreadable butter category, with an 11.3 percent increase in 2010,” said Angela Pengelly, Marketing Manager, Land O’Lakes. The new Cinnamon Sugar Butter Spread comes in a 6.5 oz. container and has a suggested retail price of $2.49.
DIY Cheese Kit
The Roaring Brook Dairy Mozzarella cheesemaking kit is said to produce cheese in an hour. The kit is the innovation of the week from Datamonitor’s Product Launch Analytics.
The kit has everything needed to make authentic mozzarella except one gallon of milk. The kit includes an instruction manual, dairy thermometer, gloves, citric acid, rennet and salt. It makes a total of four pounds of cheese (one pound at a time), in total. The recommended retail price for the kit is $15.
Winn-Dixie Recalls Chocolate Drink
Winn-Dixie Stores is voluntarily recalling Winn-Dixie Choco Charm Chocolate Drink from its in-store dairy departments because the product may be mislabeled and may contain the undeclared allergen of wheat. Individuals sensitive to wheat protein can suffer a moderate-acute allergic reaction. Sold in the dairy department of Winn-Dixie and SaveRite stores, the drink features a 128 oz. (one gallon) clear plastic bottle with a yellow bottle cap and is marked with the UPC code 21140-29830.
DAIRY MARKETING
Scandinavia’s Hjem-IS Tries QR CodesNestle's Scandinavia brand Hjem-IS launched a marketing campaign using QR (Quick Response) codes as part of their promotions during the Tour of Denmark, a major international cycling event.
"The Hjem-IS brand is a mobile business through and through, as our model relies upon vans to deliver joy to customers whenever, wherever," said Jes Nordentoft, Nordic Business Developer at Hjem-IS. Customers have quick and easy access to promotions and loyalty club information, as well as the ability to order, purchase and set up delivery of ice cream with just a few clicks.
The Hjem-IS designer QR codes were displayed prominently on posters at the start and finish lines for smartphone users to scan. Once directed to a customized mobile landing page, customers could view and interact with a variety of features and content, including:
- Deals currently offered for two rotating ice cream products
- Direct link to a mobile commerce check-out system, allowing customers the ability to snag deals, place orders of favorite Hjem-IS desserts, and set up delivery, all on-the-spot
- Sign-up for the Hjem-IS Loyalty Club
- View video and photos of various ice cream and dessert options
Mikawaya Launches Ice Cream Pint Design Contest
Mikawaya, the Los Angeles-based maker of unique Japanese pastries and original creator of Mochi Ice Cream, started a contest on http://www.mochiicecream.com as well as on their Facebook fan page in which fans will compete to create the design for their upcoming line of exquisite premium ice cream known as "Exottics." Entries will be judged by Mikawaya management. The winner's concept(s) will be used for the packaging of all the Exottics products. The contest will further fan interaction online and raise awareness of this new high-end line of ice cream while at the same time giving fans the opportunity to be a part of the process.
Contest submissions will be accepted Oct. 15, 2011. Grand prize is a 64GB Apple iPad, while 1st place and 2nd place winners will receive a Wacom Intuos4 Pen Tablet and a $50 Blick Art Materials gift card, respectively.
Allison Hooper
DAIRY PEOPLE
Allison Hooper, Inducted into the Academy of CheeseVermont Butter & Cheese Creamery co-founder Allison Hooper was inducted into the American Cheese Society’s Academy of Cheese. “This is a terrific honor and while I am proud to be in the company of these iconic cheesemakers, I share this award with 27-year business partner, Bob Reese, without whom I never would have been able to live my dream of bringing artisan produced goat cheeses from Vermont to the American table,” said Hooper. The award was presented on Aug. 5 at the Business Meeting during the 28th Annual ACS Conference and Competition in Montreal. Vermont Butter and Cheese Creamery makes all-natural fresh and aged goat cheeses, crème fraiche, mascarpone and European-style cultured butter.
Jim Wegner Leads Darigold
Darigold, Inc.’s Board of Directors selected Jim Wegner to succeed retiring John Underwood as President and CEO of Northwest Dairy Association (NDA) and Darigold. Wegner has 35 years of experience in the dairy industry. In addition to his executive roles at Darigold, Wegner spent 28 years at another national dairy company where his last position before coming to Darigold was Director of Dairy Operations overseeing plants in both the U.S. and Canada.
Headquartered in Seattle, Darigold, is the marketing and processing subsidiary of the Northwest Dairy Association, which is owned by approximately 550 dairy producers throughout the Northwest. Darigold, Inc. produces a full line of dairy-based products for retail, foodservice, commodity and specialty markets and is one of the largest U.S. dairy processors. Darigold, Inc. operates 13 processing plants throughout the Northwest.
Nominate the Exporter of the Year
The U.S. Dairy Export Council andDairy Foodswill honor the Exporter of the Year in November with the “Tom Camerlo Exporter of the Year Award.” See the nomination form on the Dairy Foods website.
DAIRY CALENDAR
Thursday, Aug. 25, 2 p.m. ET“Understanding The New Food Safety Law,” a Dairy Foodswebinar, featuring Allen Sayler, Vice President of Food Safety, Technology & Regulatory Solutions for Randolph Associates, Inc.Register on the Dairy Foods website
The webinar will cover issues specific to the dairy industry including:
- Requirements Impacting Dairy Processors
- Mandatory Recall & Detention Authority (“reason to believe”)
- Preventative Measures, Mandatory HACCP
- Required Industry Written Programs on employee training, allergens, recalls, environmental monitoring, GMPs, supplier verification
- FDA Investigator Records Access – When to say “No”
- Exemptions and What is Not in FSMA
- Implementation Time-table for Dairy Processors
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