Pandemic

DairyNZ said border closures and an unemployment rate at 3.4% are creating ongoing stress for dairy farmers.  Pic: Getty Images/Tatomm

New Zealand struggles to find dairy workers

By Jim Cornall

Applications are now open for dairy farmers to recruit much needed international workers including farm assistants and herd managers, under changes to a class exception scheme.

Sigep - The Dolce World Expo will now take place March 12 to 16.

Current covid situation sees Sigep postponed until March

By Jim Cornall

Due to increased numbers of omicron Covid-19 infections, and the subsequent reduction in travel, organizers of Sigep - The Dolce World Expo, scheduled for January, have postponed the event to March 12 to 16.

Aftre missing a year through the pandemic, the Ice Cream & Artisan Food Show returns to Harrogate in February, 2022. Pic: Ice Cream Alliance

UK ice cream show returns

By Jim Cornall

The only UK trade event for the ice cream sector, the Ice Cream & Artisan Food Show, will welcome visitors again from February 8 to 10, 2022, at the Yorkshire Event Centre, Harrogate.

Emmi said it is adjusting its sales forecast for the full year upwards slightly. Pic: Emmi

Emmi issues first-half 2021 results

By Jim Cornall

Swiss dairy company The Emmi Group increased sales by 6.2 % to CHF 1,883.6m ($2.05bn) in the first half of 2021, with organic growth of 3.7%.

SIGEP returns to Rimini in January, 2022.

Gelato growing globally despite pandemic

By Jim Cornall

Asia and North America are the new frontiers of artisan gelato, according to the Observatory run by SIGEP (Italian Exhibition Group’s International expo of Artisan Gelato, Pastry and Bakery and the coffee world).

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%.

La Fresca Margarita, produced by Feltham’s Farm, was named the Best British cheese.

Spanish-inspired cheese wins at Virtual Cheese Awards

By Jim Cornall

The second year of the Virtual Cheese Awards in association with Food and Drink Wales ended with La Fresca Margarita, a fresh young cow’s milk cheese produced by Feltham’s Farm named the Best British cheese.

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.

Dairy Dialog podcast 130: Benexia, Ice Cream Alliance, Moolec

Dairy Dialog podcast 130: Benexia, Ice Cream Alliance, Moolec

By Jim Cornall

This week, we have three interviews, one of which has four guests, and another with two. We spoke with Zelica Carr, CEO of the Ice Cream Alliance; Gastón Paladini, Martín Salinas, Henk Hoogenkamp and Catalina Jones from Moolec Science; and Remi Reguero,...

The baby care division The division focused on current nutritional trends to expand its portfolio, developing a range based on goat's milk and a vegan infant formula based on GMO-free soya.  Pic: Hochdorf

Profit up despite sales drop at Hochdorf

By Jim Cornall

Swiss company Hochdorf Swiss Nutrition Ltd said during 2020 it largely completed the restructuring it began in summer 2019. The integration of Bimbosan was implemented with its move to Hochdorf in January 2021.

The virtual event takes place from Friday, April 23 to Sunday, April 25.  Pic: Getty Images/Pat-swan

British Cheese Weekender returns

By Jim Cornall

The British Cheese Weekender returns next month with online classes, cook-alongs, tutored tastings and virtual farm tours.

Rabobank says demand will be in the driver’s seat in 2021.

Rabobank sees positive times ahead for dairy

By Jim Cornall

Rabobank said after a whole year of pandemic and lockdowns across the globe, the view of the future is clearer and more hopeful than it has been for months.

The board of directors has proposed the distribution of a dividend of €12.5m ($14.9m).  Pic: Granarolo

Granarolo meets 2020 financial targets

By Jim Cornall

Italian dairy company Granarolo S.p.A. said despite the challenging and complex nature of 2020, the company met its profitability targets.

The company invested €2.7m in truck upgrades, which equates to a reduction of 112 tons of CO2 per annum. Pic: Food Union

Profits rise for Food Union Group

By Jim Cornall

Food Union Group, the international dairy and ice cream production and distributing group, has published its annual results for the year ending December 31, 2020.

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.

complex 24 allows manufacturers to make “Source of/High in protein” claims on products. Pic: Getty Images/jchizhe

Ulrick & Short launches new functional protein

By Jim Cornall

Product nutritional values and front-of-pack health credentials are now buying factors for many consumers. In the last 18 months, this has been augmented by government initiatives, and the Covid pandemic.

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.

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...

Mengniu said all its production bases have resumed normal operation and production.

Mengniu expecting big drop in profits

By Jim Cornall

In March, China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited, said the group’s sales in February and March 2020 were affected by the coronavirus outbreak.