Dairy Processing

HERNDON, VA. — The educational opportunities lined up for Pack Expo International 2026 aren’t limited to the thousands of industry professionals who will be navigating the McCormick Place show floor Oct. 18-21, in Chicago. The event also offers countless avenues for current students who are still contemplating their future careers.

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MINN. – SOMIC Packaging named Paul Jenks its new chief sales officer. The machinery manufacturer said Jenks will lead the supplier’s commercial strategy and growth initiatives throughout North America. Jenks will report to Gerhard Huber, PhD, SOMIC group chief executive officer. SOMIC noted Jenks joins the company as a packaging industry veteran who will support the company’s next stage of development in the North American market.

WASHINGTON — The US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) submission of a final rule that allows for the use of salt substitutes in standardized foods drew praise from the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA). The trade association’s president and chief executive officer, Michael Dykes, noted the change to the Federal Register will be impactful for “many dairy products,” including various cheeses.

For dairy processors, sustainability goals increasingly are being pursued through the same initiatives that drive efficiency, consistency and profitability. Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as another tool for answering those questions. AI is not a sustainability strategy on its own. Rather, its value comes from its ability to analyze large amounts of operational data, identify patterns and help plant personnel make faster, more informed decisions.

CHICAGO — Kraft Natural Cheese found a way to make its grated cheese more portable. The Lactalis USA brand revealed its new limited time Pocket Parm, with miniature packaging that allows consumers to clip the grated cheese onto a keychain or bag, for example.

CHICAGO — Food and beverage intelligence platform Datassential revealed highlights from its 2027 Trends Report, predicting the foods, flavors and beverages set to shape menus and retail in the year ahead and beyond. Going into 2027, here are some of the trends Datassential expects to be prevalent: Late MAC Stage Concepts Get New Life: Datassential's Menu Adoption Cycle (MAC) tracks trends from inception through adoption and proliferation to ubiquity.

MADISON, WIS. — A new cost-share requirement tied to Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) initiatives prompted 28 dairy organizations to come together and urge the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to eliminate the unprecedented condition. In a letter sent Oct.

With health and wellness information just a few clicks away, today’s consumers are taking control of their health. For many, the goal is to live every day fully by staying active and engaging. Dairy products have always played a critical role in health and wellness. With thoughtful formulation, there’s an opportunity for dairy to play a bigger role in fueling longevity.

SLOUGHTON, WIS. — Athenos, part of the Emmi Roth family of brands, expanded its product lineup with the introduction of Green Goddess Feta Cheese Crumbles. The brand said its newest creation combines creamy, tangy feta with Green Goddess flavors, including lemon, green onion, parsley and garlic. The crumbles may be used in salads, grain bowls, wraps, roasted vegetables and Mediterranean-inspired meals, Athenos noted.

Grana Padano is an increasingly popular option for specialty cheese shoppers looking for an interesting variant on Grana’s close cousin, Parmigiano-Reggiano. Demand has been steadily growing for BelGioioso Cheese’s granas, said Gaetano Auricchio, the company’s president. Some of BelGioioso’s granas are extra aged for up to 24 months. “That’s a two-year investment in a wheel of cheese,” Auricchio said. “There are many hours of specialty care that go into producing and aging these cheeses.