Coronavirus

The pandemic caused a shift from eating in restaurants to home cooking. Pic: Valio

China recovery boosts Valio 2020 financials

By Jim Cornall

Valio Group net sales in 2020 were €1.808bn (US$2.2bn), up 1.2% on the previous year. Domestic net sales decreased by 0.9%, and international net sales rose 4.3%.

The IICMA said the pandemic is causing many ice cream outlets to close. Pic: Getty Images/Amit Somvanshi

Indian ice cream industry group looks for help

By Jim Cornall

The Indian Ice Cream Manufacturer's Association (IICMA) says for the second year in a row, the lack of government intervention to boost the sector has led to a loss of market for ice creams and frozen desserts during lockdowns and curfews.

Quantec's Dr Rod Claycomb and Raewyn McPhillips.  Pic: Quantec

Could milk ingredient help fight against Covid-19?

By Jim Cornall

New Zealand company Quantec said research it commissioned has found its patented New Zealand milk-derived ingredient IDP (Immune Defense Proteins) is effective at protecting cells against Covid-19.

Home cooking and baking due to the pandemic boosted sales of Arla’s global brands Lurpak, Arla and Puck.  Pic: Arla

Home consumption drives Arla brand growth during pandemic

By Jim Cornall

Danish-headquartered dairy giant Arla said it quickly reshaped the business disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic to meet the spike in home consumption and high demand for trusted household dairy products while offsetting negative impacts in other sectors.

The Best British Cheese 2020 award went to Feltham’s Farm's Renegade Monk.

UK’s Virtual Cheese Awards return

By Jim Cornall

The UK’s Virtual Cheese Awards is set to return for a second year to continue its support and celebration of Britain’s cheese industry.

Dairy Dialog podcast 119: Danone, Faerch, Too Good To Go

Dairy Dialog podcast 119: Danone, Faerch, Too Good To Go

By Jim Cornall

This week, we have three interviews. We feature conversations with Jamie Crummie, co-founder of Too Good To Go; Mark Tollman, group strategic sales director at Faerch Group; and Miguel Freitas, PhD, nutrition scientist at Danone.

Consumers are are taking more steps than ever to manage their holistic health, including physical, mental and emotional well-being. Pic: Getty Images/kzenon

ADM looks at health and wellness trends

By Jim Cornall

Consumers seem more aware than ever about health and wellness. The pandemic has been a contributing factor, but what do consumers see as the priorities when it comes to products with health and wellness claims? And how has the pandemic changed – or accelerated...

FrieslandCampina Ingredients looks at Pic: FrieslandCampina Ingredients

FrieslandCampina Ingredients – responding to a changing world

By Jim Cornall

It has been almost a year since the coronavirus pandemic took hold, and the world has changed in many ways. One major shift is that consumers have altered their shopping habits, with an increase in online purchasing, but what they are looking for, and...

In 2020, 33% of Ireland’s total food and drink exports headed to the UK.

Irish dairy exports to UK declined in 2020 says Bord Bia report

By Jim Cornall

New figures released in the annual Bord Bia Export Performance and Prospects report 2020/2021 show exports of Irish food, drink and horticulture to the UK declined by 5% in 2020, with a value of €4.3bn/$5.2bn (compared to €4.5bn/$5.5bn in 2019).

Arla has set a goal to have 10% of all retail sales across core European markets come from e-commerce. Pic: Arla Foods

Arla Foods to supercharge sales in E-commerce

By Jim Cornall

Arla is fast tracking its plans to become European dairy market leader for e-commerce and aims to double its sales via its customers’ online platforms to €600m ($729m) across Europe.

The pandemic has affected trends for 2021, and probably beyond. Pic: Kerry

Kerry publishes 2021 Taste Charts predictions

By Jim Cornall

Kerry, the taste and nutrition company, has released its annual Taste Charts for 2021, uncovering flavors and ingredients it believes are set to inspire innovation and taste excellence across the food and beverage landscape.

In December Diversey announced its Oxivir Excel Wipe neutralizes coronaviruses in as little as 15 seconds. Pic: Getty Images/anyaivanova

Diversey moves into Eastern Europe with SaneChem acquisition

By Jim Cornall

Diversey, a South Carolina-headquartered global provider of hygiene, infection prevention and cleaning solutions for the institutional and food & beverage markets, has announced the acquisition of SaneChem, a Polish-based supplier of specialist hygiene...

Food Union launched more than 100 products in 2020 and increased exports into South East Asia. Pic: Food Union

Food Union sees 2020 sales increase

By Jim Cornall

Food Union (Europe), a global ice cream and dairy producer and distributor headquartered in Latvia, will wrap up 2020 by posting strong financial results and delivering outstanding commercial performance despite the global uncertainty caused by the covid-19...

Organizers hope the event can be held later in the year.

UK Dairy Expo 2021 postponed

By Jim Cornall

Harrison & Hetherington, organizers of the Borderway UK Dairy Expo, have postponed the event scheduled to take place in March 2021.

The MOU allows the EPA to participate as a member of the Dairy Sustainability Alliance. Pic: Getty Images/Lemaniah

Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and EPA announce MoU

By Jim Cornall

The checkoff-founded Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy has announced a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it said will open doors for increased collaboration in areas of mutual interest and allow...

Through the Dairy Processing Investment Fund, the Government of Canada has approved more than C$28m (US$21.1m) in funding for 29 projects across Ontario that will benefit cheese, yogurt, cream and butter processors. Pic: Getty Images/Rowena Kong

Government of Canada kicks in $2.5m for Ontario dairy processors

By Jim Cornall

Neil Ellis, Member of Parliament for Bay of Quinte and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, has announced funding of more than C$2.5m (US$1.88m) under the Canadian Dairy Processing Investment Fund to support Empire Cheese...

Dairy Dialog podcast 101: NIZO, Kerry, Casper’s Ice Cream

Dairy Dialog podcast 101: NIZO, Kerry, Casper’s Ice Cream

By Jim Cornall

We have three interviews, and four guests, on this week’s Dairy Dialog podcast. We chatted with Robyn Eijlander, senior project manager microbiology and food safety at NIZO; Keith Lawes, VP of Sales and Marketing at Casper’s Ice Cream; and two people...

Fonterra said it has continued to reduce its environmental footprint, including hitting the 2020 target to reduce energy intensity across its New Zealand manufacturing sites by 20%. Pic: Fonterra

Fonterra announces annual results and return to paying dividend

By Jim Cornall

Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited has announced its annual results, final Farmgate Milk Price of NZ$7.14 (US$4.79) per kgMS and a dividend of 5 cents per share for the 2019/20 season, bringing the final cash payout for farmers to NZ$7.19 (US$4.83) per...

can access insights on key market trends and ingredient solutions for a variety of applications. Pic: Getty Images/Space_Cat

CP Kelco launches virtual experience

By Jim Cornall

Nature-based ingredient solution provider CP Kelco has launched a new virtual experience, allowing customers, partners and other industry stakeholders to discover CP Kelco’s insights and portfolio of offerings through a virtual-reality environment.

So far, the Farmers Feeding Families Fund has raised more than $650,000 and distributed more than $225,000 to rural and community food banks. Pic: Getty Images/johnrandallalves

DFA donating refrigeration to rural food banks

By Jim Cornall

Through the Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) Cares Farmers Feeding Families Fund, the nationwide dairy cooperative’s 13,000 family farm-owners are donating refrigeration to rural and community food banks across the country and pledging to keep them stocked...

Aluminum lidding sealing to glass. Pic: Chadwicks

Chadwicks sees challenges and opportunities for dairy packaging

By Jim Cornall

COVID-19 has created widespread economic uncertainty resulting in many sectors critically reviewing their business models. The dairy packaging sector is no exception and across the supply chain companies have had to innovate and respond quickly to changes...

Yili has overtaken Danone to become the most valuable dairy brand in the world, as well as claiming second position in the overall Brand Finance Food 50 2020 ranking.

Yili tops Brand Finance list of world’s most valuable dairy brands

By Jim Cornall

The food & drink sector is one of the few sectors that should suffer limited impact as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the world’s top food & drink brands unlikely to lose brand value, according to the latest Brand Finance Food & Drink...

Arla said it still expects to meet its expectations for the full year.

Arla delivers strong results despite pandemic

By Jim Cornall

Danish-headquartered dairy cooperative Arla Foods said in spite of the global coronavirus pandemic, in the first half year, its global branded sales volumes grew an unprecedented 10.4% and the cooperative delivered a strong and competitive performance...