Dairy Processing - April 2021 - 18

2010 to 2019

" I think it is
fair to say
that we are
starting to
look at the
new normal.
Retail sales
appear to
be holding
at about
10% above
2019 levels
with great
consistency. "
Jeremy Johnson, International
Dairy Deli Bakery Association

Dalgona coffee to running
a mile with a glass of milk
in-hand, today's TikTok-ers
are finding more ways to connect
with milk. "
Indeed, when Americans were faced with
tough times, they bought more milk, and not
just during the initial stock-up phases of the
pandemic. Milk is an " essential " for home meals.
Parents buy milk because they trust it for its
nutrition, versatility and taste. In fact, 72% of
moms said that milk was their No. 1 must-have
as the stay-at-home orders hit, above staples
like bread, eggs and vegetables, according to
MilkPEP/Radius Illumination research among 201
moms between March 17 and April 19.
To better understand the new norm of
dairy retail sales and consumer use, Midwest
Dairy, St. Paul, Minn., included a live consumer
focus group during its third annual Dairy
Experience Forum on July 15. While panelists
shared perceptions surrounding health benefits,
animal care and sustainability, they also shared
enthusiasm for dairy and habits that showcased
opportunities for the dairy industry. Among these
were increased yogurt consumption, exploring
new cheeses and cooking with dairy foods, such
as buttermilk and sour cream.
Further, based on the results of a survey

More Milk For America
On a per capita basis, Americans'
consumption of milk products grew
almost 8% in the last decade

LBS
PER
PERSON

18 APR 2021 | DAIRYPROCESSING.COM

2010

2019

605 653

4.9
5.4
5.5
5.5
5.5
5.6
5.7
5.7
6.0
6.2

commissioned by Midwest Dairy, consumers
indicated they plan to increase their yogurt usage
in the post-pandemic world. This is likely due
to the healthful halo of yogurt, as the probiotic
cultures they contain are associated with
boosting immunity.
" Dairy drivers are the same as before -
taste, health, comfort and familiarity - but have
increased in importance in the eyes of consumers, "
said Molly Pelzer, CEO of Midwest Dairy. " This
year's challenges have provided opportunities for
dairy processors to explore consumer insights
and innovate to keep dairy foods in the home
refrigerator and on the dinner table. "
Allen Merrill, chairman of Midwest Dairy, said,
" The dairy community now has the opportunity
to tap into this expanded market share and build
upon consumers' enthusiasm for the category.
We can do this by focusing future innovation
on products that meet consumers' needs for
taste, affordability, nutrition, convenience
and accessibility. "
Right now, however, getting new products
into the supermarket is challenging. Data from
IRI shows that the number of stock-keeping units
were down by 2.7% for dairy during the week of
Aug. 30 versus the same week in 2019. This is all
about opening up space for fast-moving staples.
" The other big change taking place is that
growth percentages differ when looking at dollar
versus volume sales, " said Anne-Marie Roerink,
president of 210 Analytics. " With the exception
of yogurt, dollar gains trended ahead of volume
gains for the week ending Aug. 30 versus a year
ago. This tends to point to inflation, at least on a
per-oz basis, though the volume and dollar gaps
are significantly smaller than they have been.
In addition to pricing levels coming down, this
could mark a bit of a turn to smaller serving sizes,
as some offices and schools have reopened for
in-person activities. "

stock.adobe.com

26%
between

Year

American
butter
consumption
grew

2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019

% Growth

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Dairy Processing - April 2021

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