Texturally speaking, "ice cream" is something of a misnomer. Yes, consumers expect the frozen treat to be creamy; but any hint of actual iciness, either in the scoop or on the palate, qualifies as an unmistakable quality flaw.

You've got to be pretty quick to keep up with the changing dairy beverage space these days. Dairy brands are looking for new ways to compete not only with sodas, which are finally starting to cede market share to better-for-you options, but also with a growing array of better-for-you beverage options.

Dairy-product developers must get the texture just right in foods and beverages. They have to consider multiple factors, including ingredients, processing techniques, packaging and costs.