Dairy Milk
After decades of sales weakness, dairy milk made a comeback in 2024. Retail dollar sales of dairy milk increased 2% overall in 2024 to $17.1 billion, according to Chicago-based market research firm, Circana. There was also an increase in the amount of whole milk purchased at retail outlets and a decrease in plant-based milk.
Please join Midwest Dairy as we explore dairy milk’s growth opportunities within the U.S. retail landscape.
Driving Dairy Product Innovation
According to Innova Market Insights, there are five vital consumer trends driving dairy’s future market opportunities. These trends are based on wide-ranging, global consumer surveys. Join Midwest Dairy as we explore with Innova Market Insights how consumer perceptions are shaping innovation in the dairy food and beverage landscape and what other factors may impact these trends in 2025 and beyond.
Download the presentation here.
Gen Z
While the full opportunity of Gen Z won’t be realized until they fully hit adulthood, approximately 95% are engaging with foodservice, retail food, or both. It may not be their dollars spent at present, but they’re building their loyalties now that will shape their spending well into the future.
Join Midwest Dairy as we explore with Mintel what Gen Z is looking for in their food experiences and how brands can win over this important generation.
Download the presentation here.
What’s New?
Cheese consumption in the U.S. is at an all-time high of nearly 42lbs per person, according to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) data. The wide variety of flavors and forms of natural cheeses continues to draw consumer attention to the category. Join Midwest Dairy as we explore with Innova Market Insights what’s creating excitement for consumers who are shopping for cheese.
Download the presentation here.
Consumer Perceptions Driving Dairy Innovation
According to Innova Market Insights, sustainability issues remain top of mind as the effects of climate change become more pronounced. Join Midwest Dairy as we explore with Innova Market Insights how consumers perceptions on sustainability are impacting product innovation in the dairy aisle.
Download the presentation here.
Value-Added Milk
According to Circana’s latest sales data, the value-added milk segment returned to volume growth the past 12 weeks (+2%), while plant-based alternatives continued to show volume weakness (-5.7%). Join Midwest Dairy as we explore with Mintel what is exciting consumers in the value-added milk landscape.
Download the presentation here.
Cheese
Cheese is having an impressive year! Mintel, a leader in consumer research, forecasts cheese sales to exceed the $31 billion mark in 2023. While inflation has been the main driver of dollar growth in the past two years, low category attrition during this time has proven the category’s staying power in consumer carts. Mintel also predicts cheese sales will continue to be strong in 2024 and beyond. Please join Midwest Dairy as we explore with Mintel what is keeping consumers motivated to add cheese to their carts.
Download the presentation here.
Health and Wellness
Within the health and wellness landscape, consumers are hard to pin down. What’s viewed as “healthy” to one consumer may not be “healthy” to another. This reinforces the idea that consumers will use contrasting strategies to reach the same goal. According to over 80% of consumers in the Midwest Dairy region, dairy naturally fits into a healthy lifestyle. This means that dairy brands can key in to how consumers want to get there and support them along the way.
Please join Midwest Dairy as we explore with Mintel what is motivating consumers and how the dairy industry can leverage growth in the ever-evolving health and wellness space.
Download the presentation here.
Online Grocery Shopping
According to Circana, on average, dairy shoppers spend twice as much as other shoppers. However, 75% of consumers have concerns about the freshness of food purchased online (source: Online Grocery Shopping Study, Mintel).
Please join Midwest Dairy as we explore what our recent proprietary research shows retailers can do to motivate online shoppers in our region to add dairy to their carts.
Download the presentation here.
Yogurt
According to USDA estimates released at the end of 2022, U.S. consumers consumed 14.3 pounds of yogurt in 2021… that’s a 5% leap over 2020! In recent years, there has been a notable rise in demand for low-sugar, high-protein, and, in general, more nutrient dense foods. This represents some of the key factors driving the market. In addition, there has been an increase in the sales of lactose-free yogurt variants due in part to rising lactose-intolerance in the U.S population. Growth has also been propelled by the increasing awareness among the masses about the health benefits of consuming yogurt.
Please join Midwest Dairy as we explore with Innova Market Insights what is exciting consumers and how the Dairy industry can leverage growth in the yogurt category.
Download the presentation here.
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