MAY 2026 vol. 127 no. 5
IN THIS ISSUE
OUR COVER THIS MONTH
Delivering moments of happiness
For Mobile, Ala.-based Frios Gourmet Pops, the game plan is simple: delivering moments of happiness. In fact, Frios franchisees are called “Happiness Hustlers.” For CEO Cliff Kennedy, who has served in this role for eight years, delivering moments of happiness often means bringing adults back to their childhood, which is evident in several of its flavor offerings
Cover photo courtesy of Frios Gourmet Pops; background image courtesy of Premyuda Yospim / iStock / Getty Images Plus.
Inside the Plant
Frios Gourmet Pops’ Mobile, Ala., facility, located near Interstate 65 and spanning some 21,000 square feet, can employ up to 25 people based on time of year and product demand. Upon visiting the facility, it is clear that the company can expand its operations significantly.
Membrane Technology
Previously thought of as just a byproduct, whey is increasingly becoming a value stream for dairy processors, driven by strong demand for high protein, sustainability goals and pressure to reduce waste. By extracting more value from whey streams, producers can not only minimize wastewater management challenges but also drive value through byproduct valorization.
Ingredient Tech: Extracts/Maskers
The evolution of flavor modulation in dairy reflects broader shifts in formulation priorities. As high-protein, fortified, and reduced-fat dairy products continue to dominate innovation pipelines, formulators are facing a familiar yet increasingly complex challenge.
Outlook Report: Infant Nutrition
Proper infant nutrition is essential for growth, development, and long-term health, starting from birth through the first years of life. While mom’s milk, or breastfeeding, is highly recommended for the first six months of life because of the antibodies that help protect the baby against illness and infections, breastfeeding is not always possible.
FEATURES
DAIRY FOODS EXTRA
With PROOF Hard Ice Cream currently expanding at a blazing pace, corporate executives acknowledge they will soon outgrow its 4,000-square-foot South Carolina plant.
EXPORTER OF THE YEAR
South Carolina is perhaps where the next great dairy segment has been born: alcohol-infused ice cream. At the forefront of the alcohol-infused ice cream movement is PROOF Hard Ice Cream, led by Jennifer Randall, co-founder and CEO, and Dirk Brown, co-founder and chairman, who founded the start-up in 2014.
FEATURES
INGREDIENTS/R&D
Culturally Speaking
The New Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030 list the first three dietary goals of: 1) Eat the right amount for you; 2) Prioritize protein foods at every meal; and 3) Consume dairy, including full-fat dairy with no added sugars. Gut health is also listed along with consuming dairy. It just so happens that cultured dairy products tick all these boxes, states KJ Burrington.
Health and Wellness
The dairy industry continues to expand its footprint in the healthy snacking space by delivering diverse flavors and formats via a range of packaging solutions. Cheese is a prime example. Shreds, slices, chunks, cubes, strings, sticks, crumbles, curds, spreads, balls or rolls offer different use and consumption opportunities. Cheeses can then be individually packaged for lunchboxes and backpacks or paired with crackers, nuts, or vegetables to create snack kits, notes Mary Wilcox.
Ingredient Showcase
We offer the latest solutions in dairy and plant-based proteins.
OPERATIONS
Processing Tech
Primary packaging — the initial layer of material that is in direct contact with the product itself — is what keeps dairy products fresh and safe. In its 2025 State of the U.S. Flexible Packaging Industry Report, the Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) reported 2024 annual sales of $42.6 billion, up from $41.4 billion in 2023, a 2.9% climb. In 2025, industry growth of 4.8% is projected, accelerating the market to an estimated $44.6 billion.
Equipment Showcase
Dairy Foods highlights solutions for cleaning and sanitation.
DEPARTMENTS
Eat. Drink. Dairy.
Entrepreneur Selena Gomez unveils blue ice cream bars; functional ready-to-drink lemonade contains magnesium; and Sargento introduces Mighty Bites lunch snack kits.
Market Trends
According to Circana, yogurt dollar sales reached $13.1 billion for the 52 weeks ending Feb. 22, a 14% year-over-year (YoY) jump compared to the prior-year period. Yogurt unit sales came in just shy of 4.6 billion, a 6% YoY advancement. Although its sales are a fraction of yogurt’s, cottage cheese dollar sales topped $2 billion for the the same timeframe, reaching just shy of $2.1 billion, a YoY increase of 19%. Unit sales came in at 635 million, a 14% YoY jump.
"Let’s Talk Dairy" Podcast
Jacqueline Van Schaik, global lead nutritionist, Fonterra, joins Dairy Foods for Episode 64 of the “Let’s Talk Dairy” podcast, where she discusses GLP-1s and dairy.
