Dairy Continues to Innovate as New Options Arrive

Dairy products have always been an important part of our diets, providing exceptional nutrition, great flavor, and versatility at an affordable price. They are part of our family traditions and everyday meals, whether served on their own or as part of our favorite recipes.

Yet as a staple food, many may not realize that we’re still developing new ways to harness dairy’s vast potential. Through science and technology, our industry continues to expand the boundaries of what can be accomplished from the starting point of fresh, wholesome milk.

Agropur is a top 20 global dairy processor and we are proud of the innovative spirit that shines throughout our teams. Our food scientists and technologists are driven to get the most from every drop of milk that comes through our seven state-of-the-art U.S. manufacturing facilities. We produce more than 1 billion pounds of high-quality cheese every year, and we are one of North America's largest whey protein producers

Agropur’s teams work with some of the world’s most prominent CPG companies in food, beverage, and nutrition. We can assist manufacturers as they develop  new products using dairy components and ingredients. We also devise and deliver solutions to their formulation challenges, whether they are looking to improve on flavor or texture, extend shelf life, or lower costs.

Our commitment to innovation has led to better nutrition. For instance, Agropur’s manufacturing processes include a proprietary ion exchange method that results in the highest purity whey protein products on the market

Manufacturers rely on Agropur for highly purified whey protein fractions used in medical nutrition products and infant formulas. Our highpurity Alpha-lactalbumin allows our customers to create infant formulas that closely emulate human breast milk.

Agropur’s drive to innovate also applies to our exceptional cheese. Our cheeses consistently earn top awards in prestigious competitions, including the World Championship Cheese Contest. As a B2B cheese supplier, our team can create unique products that meet the precise needs of our customers. They might want a particular color intensity in American-style cheeses or a particular flavor profile in Italianstyle cheese. A customer may ask for a mozzarella that offers just the right level of stretch or chew when melted. We can develop custom recipes that meet those specifications.

Agropur’s Cheese Technical Services team works closely with our customers through the product development process. Creating a custom cheese involves lab testing, sensory analysis, and pilot plant production to ensure our customers ultimately receive the product just as they envisioned.

The possibilities offered by dairy continue to grow at a time when the marketplace continues to change. Today’s consumers have more options available than ever before. Non-dairy imitation products attempt to meet the consumers' desire for options but may not meet nutritional needs.

 

Dairy products provide high quality, affordable nutrition throughout the world. They offer enjoyable experiences and bring us together

 It is, therefore, important to be reminded that authentic dairy is a staple food for good reason: it has all of the essential nutrients required for human health and well-being.

Plant-based food items created to mimic the flavor, texture, and functionality of milk, cheese, and yogurt continue to grow and gain acceptance. These types of products certainly fill a niche in the market. There have always been portions of the population that avoid dairy, whether due to lactose intolerance, allergies, personal tastes, or vegan lifestyles

Yet for the vast majority who have no particular aversion to dairy foods, authentic products hold significant advantages compared to plant-based alternatives– most notably in areas of price and nutrition.

Alternatives are frequently fortified with dietary fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, and other important nutrients. Yet dairy products carry greater levels of essential nutrients such as vitamin B12, calcium, and iodine – an element vital toward maintaining a healthy metabolism. Research has found that authentic dairy often provides nutritionally complete protein and a better overall nutritional profile than plant-based substitutes.

 Meanwhile, dairy substitutes are often far more expensive than the real thing. A recent study found alternative products often reached three times the cost of their dairy counterparts. Natural dairy also tastes great and offers important functionality when used in recipes.

 The differences between real cheese and non-dairy imitation products are often stark. Non-dairy cheeses – products made with nuts, oils, grains, and other plant ingredients – do not taste or perform in the same manner as real cheese. Manufacturers of non-dairy products have been unable to replicate traditional cheeses' melt or stretch. Furthermore, non-dairy options are limited compared to the wide variety of authentic cheese styles on the market.

While new products always capture our curiosity, authentic dairy has maintained its importance to consumers in terms of taste, function, nutrition, and cost. Plant-based manufacturers continue efforts to move closer to dairy in each of those criteria. Meanwhile, dairy innovators are also pushing forward and making great strides in their quest to do more with wholesome milk.

In a contest between the new and the traditional, it is worth remembering why we still love the products that have always been with us. Dairy products provide high-quality, affordable nutrition throughout the world. They offer enjoyable experiences and bring us together. At Agropur, our innovators are committed to dairy that maintains those important standards while also meeting the needs of the future