News

The Changing Face of Dairy Products

17 Oct 2014

With a whole glut of new products and with more emphasis on unique and specialist items, dairy as a whole has been an interesting ride for many over the past few years. Food & Drink International has been witness to many of these changes, but perhaps most of all to convenience products and offerings related […]

The Changing Face of Dairy Products

With a whole glut of new products and with more emphasis on unique and specialist items, dairy as a whole has been an interesting ride for many over the past few years. Food & Drink International has been witness to many of these changes, but perhaps most of all to convenience products and offerings related to health.

With an emphasis on taste, consumers are demanding dairy products that are easy to prepare or eat straight from packaging, which has meant a great deal of change within the industry. Several manufacturers have diversified from one or two simple products to a whole range of enticing brands and formulations.

With so many different products coming to market and with packaging and technology keeping up with new tastes, it could be said it’s never been a more exciting time for the industry in terms of innovation. This is particularly true when you consider the move of most consumers to healthier and more convenient products overall. The key to success lies with the use of new, efficient machinery and its associated supply chain – which has also increased its duty of responsibility to condition of products, including making leaps in refrigeration techniques and storage.

The rise of cheese as a luxury product as well as a staple foodstuff has been thanks largely to the differentiation of artisanal or specialist products and everyday, value items. It’s also been helped by innovative products aimed at the food on the go market which has gone hand in hand with packaging advances as well as machinery improvements.

On the production side, new cheese culture ranges for cottage cheese applications have been specifically developed to allow medium- and large-scale cheese producers to create dairy products with great texture and mouthfeel, while maximising profits.

As regular judges at the International Cheese Awards, held annually in the UK, we at Food & Drink International have noticed a significant spike in entries from producers wanting to showcase convenience products. Be they netted, snack-sized cheese products or new ranges of milk-based chilled drinks, the sheer variety on offer and new launches seems to suggest that food on the go, paired with perceived health benefits, is certainly having an impact on the industry as a whole.

Thankfully, technology is keeping up with these advances in demand and innovation for new products, with new automated solutions able to meet the speeds and efficiency needed. A focus on innovation when it comes to packaging is also a noticeable step in the right direction, with shelf-ready, safe and attractive options becoming available across the board. These are exciting times indeed for an industry that is not without its challenges. Making changes and looking forward is paying dividends.

Related news

US alternative egg brand cracks European market

US alternative egg brand cracks European market

23 Jun 2025

Just Egg is set to be produced in Europe’s largest plant-based facility as plant-based egg brands look to take advantage of the supply chain crisis.

Read more 
World Food Safety Day shines a spotlight on science

World Food Safety Day shines a spotlight on science

19 Jun 2025

On 7 June, the World Health Organization (WHO) held its annual World Food Safety Day, highlighting the role scientific research and innovation play in supporting consumers’ health.

Read more 
Compostable packaging claims rubbished by regulator

Compostable packaging claims rubbished by regulator

9 Jun 2025

Compostable coffee capsule ads from brands including Dualit and Lavazza Coffee have been banned after the UK’s advertising watchdog deemed them to be "misleading".

Read more 
The winners of Vitafoods Europe Startup Challenge 2025 revealed

The winners of Vitafoods Europe Startup Challenge 2025 revealed

29 May 2025

Four startups – Yomio Drops, PFx Biotech, Revobiom, and Favamole – took top prizes at this year’s Vitafoods Europe Startup Challenge awards.

Read more 
Plant-based proteins ‘have higher levels of chemical contaminants’ due to processing

Plant-based proteins ‘have higher levels of chemical contaminants’ due to processing

21 May 2025

Plant-based proteins have higher levels of chemical contaminants than their animal-based counterparts, but there is no suggestion of “immediate risk” to consumers, say scientists.

Read more 
Nestlé improves nutrition reporting as pressure grows on other food and beverage companies

Nestlé improves nutrition reporting as pressure grows on other food and beverage companies

16 May 2025

Nestlé has urged other major food manufacturing businesses to improve their reporting on the nutritional value of their products.

Read more 
Grocery retail shows cautious optimism and stabilisation

Grocery retail shows cautious optimism and stabilisation

15 May 2025

Health and functionality, personalisation, convenience, advancing technologies, and sustainability dominate the grocery retail landscape and the shoppers of the future.

Read more 
East takes on West in the fight for future food flavours

East takes on West in the fight for future food flavours

30 Apr 2025

Asian and South American flavours are now key components on global menus, driven by a growing global appetite for culinary mashups.

Read more 
How biotechnology is developing novel ingredients of the future

How biotechnology is developing novel ingredients of the future

29 Apr 2025

Fermented ingredients have the potential to change the food sector at a more rapid pace than once thought, a report by global management consultancy McKinsey suggests.

Read more 
Chinese consumers show strong interest in new plant milk types

Chinese consumers show strong interest in new plant milk types

28 Apr 2025

Chinese consumers are prioritising taste and health benefits when purchasing plant milks, with growing interest in ingredients such as nuts, grains, and tubers.

Read more