OPERATIONS essential partnerships Dairy brands look for like-minded partners as they navigate the challenging supply chain and labor environment. by Allison Gibeson | dairyprocessing@sosland.com W hen dairy brands look to introduce new products to the market, they often do not have the capital to manufacture the products themselves. A co-manufacturer can provide this capacity as well as offer a brand multiple product and packaging options at a fraction of the cost they would incur if they manufactured themselves. After stating those benefits of co-manufacturing, Edward Tilley, senior vice president and chief operating officer of beverage and dairy foods at Kansas City, Kan.-based Dairy Farmers of America, also said these partnerships help brands gain market differentiation. Overall, co-manufacturers provide a wide range of services for brands from product development assistance all the way to manufacturing of finished products. These relationships have become even more important in the past year as the strain of the supply chain and labor crises coupled with increased demand for products have placed pressure on both manufacturers and brands. 32 JAN-FEB 2022 | DAIRYPROCESSING.COM Agropurhttp://www.DAIRYPROCESSING.COM