Dairy Dialog podcast 144: The Good Crisp Company, PMMI PACK EXPO, StoneX
The Good Crisp Company debuts immune-boosting cheese balls
The Good Crisp Company, a brand of chips in canisters, has launched Cheese Balls, which the company said has immune-boosting properties.
The Good Crisp Company Cheese Balls were inspired by founder and CEO, Matt Parry's experience seeing his daughter undergo chemotherapy treatments for leukemia. Parry then set out to create a snack that was both tasty and beneficial to health.
Parry said he wanted to clean up the cheese ball ingredients to provide a healthier alternative, which included the addition of immune-boosting ingredient Wellmune produced by Kerry. The clinically proven ingredient helps strengthen the immune system and enhances its key functions.
The Good Crisp Company Cheese Balls are non-GMO, gluten-free, and made with all-natural ingredients. Cheese Balls are available in two flavors: Cheddar and Aged White Cheddar.
"With Cheese Balls, we are thrilled to offer a nutritious new snack that doesn't compromise on flavor and can be easily incorporated into the family routine without guilt," Parry said.
"My family's health was at the forefront when developing this product and with the inclusion of Wellmune, we hope to bring families an immune-boosting snack that they can feel great about eating!"
The Good Crisp Company Cheese Balls are available online and will be available soon at select retailers. Cheese Balls can be purchased in 2.75oz canisters for $4/each.
Chinese dairy imports sharply higher in June
StoneX says Chinese imports were very strong in June, up 24% on last year on a milk equivalent basis but a bit more subdued than what we were expecting for the month.
IMF, AMF and whey were the only products to see y/y declines while all the other main dairy products saw new records for the month.
WMP: WMP imports saw their biggest ever volume for June, smashing the previous record posted in 2014 by 56% as well as sitting 95% ahead of the three-year average for the month. Cumulative WMP imports are now 29% ahead of the total volume imported Jan-Jun last year. NZ accounted for most of the WMP with 67.8kt (89%) of June volume, which is up 80% y/y posting a new record for imports from NZ for the month.
Australia was the second biggest origin accounting for 2.0kt (3%) of the total, up 63% y/y. New Zealand remains the leading YTD origin with 93% of the total volume imported for the year to June, up 29% y/y while YTD imports from Australia (who moved ahead of Uruguay as the second biggest origin with 3% of the H1 volume) are up 32% on Jan-Jun 2020.
SMP: SMP imports also saw a new record for June with imports for the month coming in at 34.3kt, up 47% y/y. New Zealand was again the leading origin accounting for 26% of the monthly total, up 13% y/y. Australia who was second with 14% of the June total saw their share of imports increase by 106% y/y while SMP imports from the US in third with 12% of the volume saw their biggest June since 2015, up 28% y/y to 4.2kt. Cumulative SMP imports are now 47% ahead of last year. New Zealand account for 42% of this total, up 20% y/y while cumulative imports from second placed Australia with 16% of the H1 total are now up 105% y/y.
Infant Milk Formula: IMF imports saw their fifth y/y decline in a row in June, down 13% on 2020 to 24.4kt, a five-year low for the month. The Netherlands was the leading origin with 36% of the June volume, down 8% y/y while IMF imports from all other origins were down 15% y/y. New Zealand in second accounted for 5.9kt (24%) of the volume, up 11% y/y. Cumulative IMF imports are now down 22% y/y at 134.3kt, with the Netherlands accounting for 35% of the H1 volume, down 17% y/y while New Zealand are second with 23% of the YTD volume down 12% y/y to 30.5kt.
Fat Imports: Combined butter and AMF imports were very strong overall in June, up 27% y/y posting a new record for the month with butter the driving force behind the increase, offsetting lower AMF imports.
Butter: Butter imports posted a new record high for June, up 80% y/y beating the previous record of 7.1kt posted back in 2018. This also marked a 52% increase on the three-year average for the month. New Zealand was the main origin with 70% of the volume, up 103% on the volume of butter import from New Zealand in June 2020. France was second with 7% (0.6kt) of the monthly total, up 1% y/y. Cumulative butter imports now total 60.1kt, 21% ahead of the volume imported in H1 last year. New Zealand account for 79% of this total, up 9% y/y while cumulative imports from Australia in second with 6% of the total are up almost 509% y/y.
AMF: AMF imports posted heavy y/y declines in June coming in at 2.1kt, down 42% y/y although very strong y/y gains last year are exaggerating this y/y decline somewhat. NZ account for 67% of the June volume (-60% y/y) and 92% of the YTD volume (+27% y/y). The US was the second biggest origin in June with 0.5kt (21%) of the volume, a new record for AMF imports to China from the US. The US is now the second biggest YTD destination accounting for 3% of cumulative AMF imports, up over 1,300% y/y.
Cheese: Cheese imports also posted a new record for the month of June coming in at 14.8kt, up 19% y/y and up 41% on the three-year average. New Zealand was the main origin with 57% of the cheese imported in June (+45% y/y) which is a new record for imports from New Zealand in June. Imports from Australia who was second for the month with 11% of the total saw a three-year high for the month, up 4% y/y to 1.7kt. Cumulative imports now sit 57% ahead of last year. New Zealand account for 59% of H1 cheese imports, up 56% y/y while cumulative imports from second placed Australia with 14% of the YTD volume are up 48% y/y.
Whey: Chinese Whey powder and WPC imports saw their first y/y decline in 17 months in June, down 1% y/y although extremely strong whey imports in 2020 are skewing this to some extent. As such, whey imports remained 20% ahead of the three-year average for the month. The US was the leading origin with 35% of the Whey and WPC imported by China in June, down 7% y/y ahead of the Netherlands in second with 13% of the volume (+13% y/ y). YTD whey imports are now 57% ahead of last year with the US accounting for 37% of this total, up 31% y/y. Belarus remains the second biggest YTD origin with 10% of the cumulative total (39.4kt), up 68% y/y.
What to expect at PACK EXPO Las Vegas' September return
Live, in-person technology in action for the first time in 18 months is one of the features of the packaging and processing trade show PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO, which take place from September 27 to 29 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Show producer PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies said there will be more than 1,500 exhibitors, targeted education and networking opportunities spread across four halls at the venue.
“Registration is already exceeding expectations, and we anticipate well over 20,000 packaging and processing professionals in attendance this September,” said Jim Pittas, president and CEO, PMMI.
“These numbers indicate an industry eager and more ready than ever to get back together. With thousands of attendees from CPGs and pharma companies already registered to attend and 1,500 exhibiting companies, this is the one place that will unite the entire industry this year.”
“With so many solutions on display and access to the top exhibitors and industry experts, attendees in Las Vegas can accomplish more in three days than a year’s worth of research,” said Laura Thompson, vice president, trade shows.
“So often we hear from past attendees who discovered technologies that solved challenges they didn’t even know existed.”
The Processing Zone returns with front-of-the-line solutions such as homogenizing, heat treating, forming/sizing and coating to help increase efficiency, achieve total system integration and ensure food safety. New in 2021 is the Processing Innovation stage, focusing on the latest processing breakthroughs.
Additional pavilions include the PACKage Printing Pavilion, showcasing the latest in cost-effective digital printing solutions; The Containers and Materials Pavilion, displaying the latest in new recyclables and bio-based materials, printable films, flexible, resealable and plant-based packaging; The Reusable Packaging Pavilion: sponsored by the Reusable Packaging Association (RPA), highlighting sustainable packaging solutions and the Confectionery Pavilion, home of the Candy Bar Lounge, sponsored by Syntegon Packaging Technology and hosted by the National Confectioners Association (NCA).
The new PACK to the Future exhibit takes attendees on a journey through the evolution of packaging and processing, how the industrial and scientific revolutions led to rapid innovations and mass production and how the digital revolution is shaping the future. The exhibit includes nearly 30 historic packaging and processing machines dating from the late 1890s to the late 1970s with imagery supplied by museums and instantly recognizable consumer packaged goods brands including Coca-Cola, General Mills, Kellogg, Hormel, Anheuser-Busch and Merck. The PACK to the Future Stage will highlight future technology, including innovative sustainability initiatives, e-commerce solutions, smart packaging and artificial intelligence.
The Technology Excellence Awards allow attendees to recognize and vote on innovative exhibitor technology new to PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO. Winners will be announced at the show on September 28.
PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO will feature free 30-minute exhibitor-hosted seminars on breakthroughs and best practices at The Innovation Stages. The Forum offers free, 45-minute learning sessions on the latest industry trends, including hands-on activities, small group discussions and Q&As with leading organizations. Attendees can also learn the latest trends and benefits of reusable packaging in the Reusable Packaging Learning Center.
The Packaging & Processing Women’s Leadership Network (PPWLN) breakfast, The New World of Work, combines networking and education, with a panel discussion of key industry trends, like moving to digitalization and automation on the plant floor and their impact on workplace diversity.
In addition to driving more women into the industry, the Workforce Development Pavilion, located in the North Hall, is a one-stop-shop for strengthening and growing the packaging and processing workforce.
PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO also offer activities aimed at getting students excited about careers in packaging and processing with robotics teams from Las Vegas area high schools showing their robots in action at the Future Innovators Robotics Showcase.
Registration, which includes access to both PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO, is $30 through Sept. 3, after which the price increases by $100.
