For the 14th consecutive year, Wisconsin cheesemakers captured more awards than any other state or country at the American Cheese Society’s (ACS) 2018 Competition. Wisconsin cheese and dairy producers took home a total of 94 awards—more than the next two states combined—at the 35th annual competition and conference held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this past weekend. Wisconsin butter, yogurt and cheesemakers claimed 26 […]
Category: Dairy News
The Shelby Report covers the dairy category for grocery retailers nationwide, from milk, cheese and yogurt trends to plant-based alternatives, supplier announcements and merchandising strategies. Updated regularly across our five regional editions.
See more dairy coverage in Focus on Fresh: Dairy & Deli.
Bubbies Debuts New Summer Mochi Flavors At Whole Foods
Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream & Desserts is introducing Strawberry Rhubarb and Meyer Lemon mochi—bite-sized ice creams wrapped in a sweetened rice dough—at select Whole Foods Market stores for a limited time. The new flavors join Bubbies’ growing line of more than 25 varieties, including fan favorites like Triple Chocolate, Blueberry, Blood Orange and Green Tea. “As demand and […]
Plant-Based Food Sales Up 20 Percent, Report Finds
The Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA), a trade association representing 114 plant-based food companies, has released new data showing robust sales in the plant-based foods industry with dollar sales growth of 20 percent over the last year and sales topping $3.3 billion. “The plant-based foods industry has gone from being a relatively niche market to […]
Blue Bell Introduces Key Lime Mango Tart Flavor
Blue Bell closed out July, National Ice Cream Month, with the launch of a new flavor—Key Lime Mango Tart, a sweet and tangy key lime ice cream blended with graham cracker crust pieces and a mango sauce swirl. “We like to think of our new Key Lime Mango Tart as sunshine in a carton,” said Joe […]
Plant-Based Product Claims See 62% Increase Over Five-Year Period
Growing consumer interest in health, sustainability and ethics is driving plant-derived ingredients and products to high popularity. Innova Market Insights reports that plant-based product claims increased by 62% globally from 2013-2017, with growth occurring on platforms such as plant proteins, active botanicals, sweeteners, herbs and seasonings, and coloring foodstuffs. “The dairy alternatives market has been a particular […]
Litehouse Unveils Refreshed Branding For Simply Artisan Cheese Line
Litehouse Inc., an employee-owned company and producer of refrigerated salad dressings, dips, herbs and cheese, is aiming to “brighten up” its award-winning cheese line with new branding and packaging. The new look for Litehouse Simply Artisan leverages design cues from the recently refreshed core line of Litehouse dressings and dips, including modernized branding, top-down photography, eye […]
IDDBA 18 Expo Draws More Than 10,000 Attendees
Nearly 900 exhibiting companies and more than 10,000 people attended the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association’s (IDDBA) annual show this year, held June 10-12 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, in New Orleans. The sold-out expo consisted of 2,089 booths and offered educational experiences ranging from actionable merchandising ideas and new products to presentations […]
Julie’s Organic Ice Cream Company Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Julie’s Organic is turning 20 and celebrating its flagship product with a limited-edition box design and consumer giveaways. The brand debuted what it says was the first nationally available organic ice cream in 1998—four years before USDA organic standards were established. To honor the milestone, Julie’s Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich is available now in a […]
Weigel’s Latest Location Focuses On Made-To-Order Foodservice
C-store chain Weigel’s has opened its 66th store near its corporate headquarters in Powell, Tennessee, at 7505 Clinton Highway. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new store was held June 6. A special grand opening celebration starts June 11 and will run through June 17. “We’ve had many requests to expand and update our presence here […]
Albertsons Cos. Launches ‘Top-Shelf’ Private Label Line
Albertsons Cos. is “expanding and elevating” its Own Brands portfolio with Signature Reserve, branded as a “top-shelf culinary presence.” “Signature Reserve inspires delicious discovery with extraordinary and expertly sourced flavors and ingredients,” said Geoff White, president of Albertsons Cos. Own Brands. “Shoppers are more educated and interested in culinary trends than ever before, and Signature […]
Garelick Farms Reportedly Closing Lynn, Massachusetts, Plant
Garelick Farms, owned by Dean Foods, plans to close its Lynn, Massachusetts, facility, according to the Daily Item. The newspaper reported that the announcement was made to plant workers and other Dean Foods plants on May 22. The company cited the nationwide decrease in milk consumption as the reason for the closure. The plant, which employs nearly 300 […]
Consumers’ Expectations In Dairy Products Changing
The list is long of what consumers are demanding from their dairy product favorites, including qualities like sugar reduction, value-added ingredients, portability and clean labels. The themes play out across dairy’s four leading categories: cultured products, cheese, milk and ice cream. According to the National Dairy Council (NDC), nutrition experts agree that it is best […]
Seasonal Peaches & Cream Halo Top Available Nationwide This Summer
Halo Top Creamery will debut its new seasonal flavor, Peaches & Cream, nationwide beginning in early June. The summer flavor will be available for a limited time. Fans will be able to get their hands on the new flavor, with 320 calories and 20g of protein per pint, in freezer aisles nationwide until the end […]
Lovera’s In Krebs, Oklahoma, Makes Award-Winning ‘Approachable’ Cheese
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Southwest Caciocavera is the signature cheese of Lovera’s Handcrafted Foods in Krebs, Oklahoma. The name is a play on the Italian caciocavallo (literally “horse cheese”). It keeps with a tradition born in Southern Italy some 500 years before Christ walked the earth. Cheeses were tied one to the other and transported to market […]
BrandSpark Lists 2018’s Most Trusted Brands In The U.S.
Market research firm BrandSpark International has announced the winners of its 2018 BrandSpark Most Trusted Awards for CPG brands in the U.S. (See list below.) More than 15,000 household shoppers participated in the online survey and determined America’s most trusted brands in food & beverage, personal care & beauty, household & pets and over-the-counter health. Now […]
Milk Category Commoditization Is Not The Best Tactic
Author’s note: After a hiatus following brain surgery due to the discovery of a brain aneurysm, I have returned to my writing responsibilities with The Shelby Report and am now better than new. It’s great to be back! by Cindy Sorensen/ owner and CEO of The Grocery Group Today’s milk case is exploding with an abundance […]
Schuman Cheese Embraces Both Tradition And Innovation
by Lorrie Griffith/editor-in-chief Schuman Cheese has won more than 100 awards for its cheeses in both domestic and international cheese competitions during its 74-year history. Already this year, the company has won a Best of Class award at the World Championship Cheese Contest for its Cello Hand-Crafted Asiago; its Cello Copper Kettle Parmesan, Cello Artisan […]
Survey: Parents Unsure How Much Calcium Children Need
The Dairy Alliance (formerly the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association) surveyed more than 1,000 parents in the Southeast to learn about their family’s milk, yogurt and cheese consumption habits to understand the most pervasive myths about dairy in honor of May’s National Osteoporosis Awareness Month. Allison+Partners Research + Insights surveyed adults in Alabama, Louisiana, North […]
Fruit Flavors Take Top Honors At Innovative Ice Cream Contest
Several fruity flavors of ice cream—either newly introduced or yet to be released—captured the attention of judges at the International Dairy Foods Association‘s (IDFA) annual Innovative Ice Cream Flavor Competition in Fort Myers, Florida, with the favorites earning first-place finishes in all three categories. Signature Reserve Brazilian Guava Cheesecake ice cream, Spicy Mango Raspberry Fiesta […]
Fairlife Unveils New Core Power Packaging With Relaunch Of Coffee Flavor
Core Power protein shakes, Fairlife’s sports nutrition drink, is re-releasing a coffee flavor that previously was available years ago. Its predecessor was a part of the “light” series with 20g of protein per serving; the new product has 26g per serving. The entire Core Power collection will have a refreshed look when it hits stores […]
