The Dairy Download

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Summer is here and National Ice Cream Month is right around the corner, which means it’s a great time to chat about America’s favorite frozen treat. What are the latest and greatest ice cream flavors on the market? How do consumer preferences around ice cream change in the summer months?
 
Tune in to this week’s episode of The Dairy Download to find out! We are joined by two leading ice cream companies to talk about flavor development, frozen novelty product innovations, and the joys of sharing such a cherished dessert with customers across the country.

Rich Graeter, president and CEO of Graeter’s Ice Cream, and Lauren Lewis, public relations manager at Blue Bell Creameries, share with us the ins and outs of the ice cream business and how they keep their products fresh and exciting year-round.

If your company is interested in sponsoring a block of episodes of The Dairy Download, contact IDFA’s Lindsay Gold at [email protected].

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Research suggests that Americans of all backgrounds recognize the nutritional importance of dairy. And yet, about 90% of Americans still do not get enough dairy in their diet. How can we change that? What lactose-free dairy options are currently available and how do we see the category expanding? What barriers still exist to dairy nutrition? 

Join us for this week’s episode of The Dairy Download to hear from two experts about the barriers to dairy nutrition among Americans, how the dairy industry can make the nutrition from dairy products more accessible, and the latest innovations and advancements in lactose-free dairy. 
 
Dr. Tamika Sims, PhD, senior director of food technology communications with the International Food Information Council, and Darin Copeland, public relations manager for Prairie Farms Dairy, share with us the latest research on dairy nutrition and consumer behavior and highlight some of the new products revolutionizing the lactose-free dairy category.

If your company is interested in sponsoring a block of episodes of The Dairy Download, contact IDFA’s Lindsay Gold at [email protected].

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With advancements in technology and innovations in digital retail and marketing, it is becoming easier and easier for consumers to find the products they need online. As online retail becomes more prevalent, what does that mean for dairy? What levels of growth are we seeing in online grocery shopping? How does the digital shelf impact brick and mortal retail?  
 
Join us for this week’s episode of The Dairy Download to get insight into the online food retail world from two experts who have a pulse on changing consumer behaviors and expectations, innovations in technology and marketing strategies, and what opportunities the digital shelf can create for the dairy market. 

Andy Beilke, senior development manager with General Mills, and Steve Markenson, vice president of research and insights with FMI – The Food Industry Association, talk to us about the ins and outs of the digital shelf, the rise of online shopping, and what’s on the horizon for online retail and marketing of dairy products.

If your company is interested in sponsoring a block of episodes of The Dairy Download, contact IDFA’s Lindsay Gold at [email protected].

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From increasing dairy capacity and rising exports to decreased milk production and variable consumer demand, the beginning of 2024 has presented the dairy industry with plenty of tailwinds and headwinds. What was the most surprising market trend from the past few months? What factors will drive the dairy market moving forward? 

Tune in to get insight from two expert panelists on where the dairy market stands today and what we can expect as we dive into the summer months!
 
Sara Dorland managing partner at Ceres Dairy Risk Management, and Mike McCully, president and owner of McCully Consulting, talk to us about consumer demand, milk supply, pricing, dairy export markets, and what trends we might see throughout the rest of the year.

If your company is interested in sponsoring a block of episodes of The Dairy Download, contact IDFA’s Lindsay Gold at [email protected].

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Sweet dreams are truly made of cheese! From brie, mozzarella, and parmesan to pepperoncino and burrata, there’s a cheese for every occasion. More and more consumers are reaching for specialty cheeses for their cooking, charcuterie, and snacking needs. What does that mean for innovation in specialty cheeses? How do cheese companies adapt to changing consumer preferences and demand?
 
Joining us this week on The Dairy Download are two guests at the center of the specialty cheese industry, who can talk to the rising trends, innovations, flavors, and more!

Bob McManus, executive vice president of sale with Sartori, and Francesca Elfner, vice president of BelGioioso, talk to us about consumer demand for specialty cheese, marketing their products, the new opportunities and challenges facing their segment of dairy, and what new and exciting flavors and trends are on the horizon.

If your company is interested in sponsoring a block of episodes of The Dairy Download, contact IDFA’s Lindsay Gold at [email protected].

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AI is on the cutting edge of new and growing technology that can be leveraged to enhance production, supply chain efficiency, and product sales. How are dairy companies adapting to incorporate this tool into their operations? What else is on the horizon for AI, and how can the dairy industry rise to meet it? 

Joining us this week on The Dairy Download are two guests who know how powerful AI can be as an advantage for dairy businesses and have built partnerships across the industry to realize this tool for all aspects of dairy production and distribution.
 
Sandeep Anand, senior director and head of machine learning solutions with Infor, and Dr. Sushil Verma, founder and CTO of Austin Data Labs, part of the Ever.ag family of companies, talk to us about how AI can make businesses more adaptable while increasing efficiency and enhancing existing processes. Anand and Verma share what they see as the next step in innovations for AI and machine learning.

If your company is interested in sponsoring a block of episodes of The Dairy Download, contact IDFA’s Lindsay Gold at [email protected].

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Consumer debt is on the rise. Interest rates and land values remain high. Global agricultural trade has been flat while production increases. So, where is the ag economy headed?
 
Joining us this week on The Dairy Download are two guests who know the ins and outs of agricultural markets.

Corey Geiger, the lead economist for dairy production and processing with CoBank, and Dr. Michael Swanson, chief agricultural economist within Wells Fargo’s Agri-Food Institute, talk to us about interest rates, land values, market trends, and the economic outlook for U.S. agriculture.

If your company is interested in sponsoring a block of episodes of The Dairy Download, contact IDFA’s Lindsay Gold at [email protected].

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GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic are traditionally prescribed to treat diabetes and obesity. But recently, these drugs have broken into the mainstream as a weight loss solution. As we learn more about the implications and long-term effects of these drugs, questions arise about their impact on food demand. Are medications like Ozempic here to stay? And what does their increasing popularity mean for food sales and consumer trends?

Joining us this week on The Dairy Download are two guests have analyzed consumer behavior changes due to increased use of GLP-1 drugs.
 
Darren Seifer, an industry advisor for consumer goods and food service with Circana, and Dan Frommer, founder and editor in chief of The New Consumer, talk to us about the rise of GLP-1 drugs, their impacts on consumers, and how they will continue to shape food sales across different categories.

If your company is interested in sponsoring a block of episodes of The Dairy Download, contact IDFA’s Melissa Lembke at [email protected].

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Rate The Dairy Download on Apple Podcasts!

If your company is interested in sponsoring a block of episodes of The Dairy Download, contact IDFA’s Lindsay Gold at [email protected].

Like the show?
Rate The Dairy Download on Apple Podcasts!

The 33.8 million meals served each day in public schools provide a variety of healthy foods and beverages, including milk and dairy. Milk contains 13 essential nutrients that are critical to ensure children’s healthy growth and development. It is also the primary source of protein, vitamin D, calcium, and potassium for kids aged 2-18. School meals are a key opportunity for children to get important nutrients in their day, and milk is a central part of that. 

Joining us this week on The Dairy Download are two guests who help deliver the nutritious milk options enjoyed by students across the country. Flavored milk, whole milk, and 2% milk along with 1% and skim milk all offer nutrient dense options that students can enjoy. However, processors and schools continue to face difficulties in providing a full suite of milk options to their students.
 
Chuck Turner, president of Turner Dairy Farms, and Sean Steichen, senior director of strategic initiatives at Diversified Foods Inc. and NextGen Leadership Program alumni, discuss the nutritional importance of milk in school meals, the innovations in the school milk space, and why school milk is important to their businesses.

If your company is interested in sponsoring a block of episodes of The Dairy Download, contact IDFA’s Lindsay Gold at [email protected].

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America currently faces chronic food insecurity and many families across the country struggle with hunger every day. Dairy products are nutrient-dense, and increasing access to affordable options can increase food security for those struggling the most.
 
This week on The Dairy Download, we are joined by two guests who are working to increase access to dairy with the Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives (HFMI) program. HFMI projects provide SNAP beneficiaries with a dollar-for-dollar match when they purchase healthy fluid milk options.

Alicia Powers, managing director for Auburn University’s Hunger Solutions Institute, and Becky Bronkema, director of merchandising for dairy and frozen foods at Meijer, dive into how this program is being implemented across the country, and how it can expand in the future.

If your company is interested in sponsoring a block of episodes of The Dairy Download, contact IDFA’s Melissa Lembke at [email protected].

Like the show?
Rate The Dairy Download on Apple Podcasts!

If your company is interested in sponsoring a block of episodes of The Dairy Download, contact IDFA’s Lindsay Gold at [email protected].

Like the show?
Rate The Dairy Download on Apple Podcasts!