SEPTEMBER 2025 vol. 127 no. 9
IN THIS ISSUE
Packaging Tech: Printing, Labeling and Shrink Wrapping
Dairy Foods discusses the latest in printing, labeling and shrink-wrapping solutions in the dairy industry with Ryan Spencer, product marketing manager at MULTIVAC.
Ingredient Tech: Lactose-Free
It wasn’t long ago when consumers seeking lactose-free dairy products had limited options. Today, more than 98% of retail outlets offer lactose-free dairy milk and other products. Across the Dairy15, lactose-free products are up +8.5% in dollars and +3.8% in volume.
Outlook Report: Dairy Alternatives
Global sales of dairy alternatives were valued at $32.7 billion in 2024 and are expected to reach $66.9 billion in 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.7%, states Grand View Research. We take a long look at what’s in store for the product segment.
FEATURES
PACK EXPO Preview
PACK EXPO LAS Vegas will celebrate 30 years of its pivotal trade show by hosting its largest event yet, with more than 1 million net square feet of show space. PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, looks forward to welcoming the world to the event, being held Sept.29-Oct.1 at the Las Vegas Convention Center
IFT Review
The Institute of Food Technologists IFT First: Annual Event and Expo returned to McCormick Place in Chicago July 13-16. With the theme of “Cutting Sodium, Cutting Cost, and Clean Label Solutions — Driving Taste Innovation through Localized Application,” the trade show covered such topics as GLP-1 medications, consumer concern over ultra-processed foods, the trajectory of the plant-based protein category and much more.
DAIRY FOODS EXTRA
With PROOF Hard Ice Cream currently expanding at a blazing pace, corporate executives acknowledge they will soon outgrow its 4,000-square-foot South Carolina plant.
EXPORTER OF THE YEAR
South Carolina is perhaps where the next great dairy segment has been born: alcohol-infused ice cream. At the forefront of the alcohol-infused ice cream movement is PROOF Hard Ice Cream, led by Jennifer Randall, co-founder and CEO, and Dirk Brown, co-founder and chairman, who founded the start-up in 2014.
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
Eat. Drink. Dairy.
Activia champions gut health with new Proactive line; resealable packaging bolsters
Baskin-Robbins’ Cake in a Box; Rich Products brings chocolate whip in every sip.
Market Trends
When looking at alternatives to traditional milk, kefir stands out. Market research firm Circana reports that sales of the refrigerated beverage rose 23% year over year (YoY) to $211 million during the 52-week period ending June 15.
"Let’s Talk Dairy" Podcast
Adam Geissler, director of strategic accounts at New York City-based Augury, joins Dairy Foods to discuss artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that improve machine health and process operations within dairy plants.
OPERATIONS
Equipment Showcase
Dairy Foods highlights the latest solutions for advanced detection systems.
INGREDIENTS/R&D
Health & Wellness
Due to a unique combination of high quality, functional and nutritionally complete proteins, dairy products and ingredients are being used in nutrient-dense, snackable and shareable dips and spreads. This is a great way for dairy processors to grow their portfolio, Mary Wilcox suggests.
Dairy & Nutrition
A product’s nutrition facts panel no longer tells the whole story. Nutrition scientists are researching the complex food matrix and the health effects of bioactives, sometimes referred to as the “dark matter” of food, Matthew Pikosky writes.
Tharp & Young
Development and utility of artificial intelligence (AI) itself is traveling faster than the speed of light with science, capabilities, value propositions, issues (for good/bad) changing daily. So, what is it?
Ingredient Showcase
We feature the latest solutions for cultures and enzymes
