Over the past couple of years the dairy industry has shown worrying levels both in its levels of production and consumption. Many critics and sceptics would argue that this is a result of consumers becoming more, dairy intolerant and ethical. Could the decline in the dairy industry really be a result of these matters, or is the industry failing to provide consumers with a reasonable justification for consuming liquid dairy?
Is the dairy industry innovative enough for today's consumer?
- Thread starter brianb
- Start date
- Location
- Northumberland
Shortly after we started bottling our own milk a lady, who had been involved in the industry for years came out with the classic line -
" The big processers think inovative marketing means undercutting the opposition "
She is right, many only have one marketing tool -Price
" The big processers think inovative marketing means undercutting the opposition "
She is right, many only have one marketing tool -Price
Chips
Member
- Location
- Shropshire
Arla has just opened a world leading innovation centre so lets watch this space .....crunchy cheese anyone ?
I would defiantly agree on the matter that the underdog has been overshadowed by the bigger competitors in the dairy industry. However, I would also say that the dairy industry does need to look at new ways to appeal to customers, which won't be something dealt with overnight. In addition to this innovation is something dairy producers need to look into, with heavy competition coming from the plant based alternatives. That have proven to have a strong appeal to the current market.
betweenthelines
Member
- Location
- southwest
Because the wholesale bottled milk market is controlled by the processors dairy farmers have virtually no input into the marketing of their product.
Despite the myriad products that are available to the consumer (standard, semi, skimmed, one percent, organic, pure, longlife, farmers) in a myriad of sizes-all the types can be pint, litre, two pint, two litre, four pint, three litre, six pint, and labels (countrylife, Wiseman, arla plus all major retailer own labels) I believe that what most consumers want is straightforward-WHOLE, FRESH MILK. Lidl & Aldi sell the smallest ranges of bottled milk yet their sales are continually growing
Every time a bottling line changes a label or bottle size, it adds cost which gets passed onto the retailer then the consumer.
Farmers need to regain control of the marketing of their product and, instead of going mad with multiple choices of "value added" milks just market it on the benefits of a wholesome natural product, produced by cows keep in high welfare (preferably grass based) conditions in the UK.
It's just a pity that we haven't got a national MARKETING BOARD for MILK.
Despite the myriad products that are available to the consumer (standard, semi, skimmed, one percent, organic, pure, longlife, farmers) in a myriad of sizes-all the types can be pint, litre, two pint, two litre, four pint, three litre, six pint, and labels (countrylife, Wiseman, arla plus all major retailer own labels) I believe that what most consumers want is straightforward-WHOLE, FRESH MILK. Lidl & Aldi sell the smallest ranges of bottled milk yet their sales are continually growing
Every time a bottling line changes a label or bottle size, it adds cost which gets passed onto the retailer then the consumer.
Farmers need to regain control of the marketing of their product and, instead of going mad with multiple choices of "value added" milks just market it on the benefits of a wholesome natural product, produced by cows keep in high welfare (preferably grass based) conditions in the UK.
It's just a pity that we haven't got a national MARKETING BOARD for MILK.
You bring up many good factors in your argument, maybe the dairy industry isn't excelling because of its need to cater to a wider audience. The one thing alternative plant based "dairy" is good at is appealing to its target audience. Consumers are constantly being bombarded with the health benefits of consuming non-dairy products, and the dairy industry has received a lot of backlash as a result. The dairy industry has to grow with the consumer, so it could be the case of companies using more ethical and environmentally friendly methods of breeding and producing dairy, that the plant based companies advocate we don't do enough, and educating consumers with the benefits of dairy consumption.
awkward
Member
- Location
- kerry ireland
with all the money farmers have invested over the years through their processors in R&D. you would imagine that they first could educate public in benefits of eating dairy and dispel some myths
- Location
- South Molton
I like innovation but there is the danger they are just fads, and we are just chasing the latest fashionable food. Making a product with a name that can last is key.
- Location
- South Molton
Thats what the dairy council is supposed to do!
- Location
- Warwickshire
I just don't get why people drink so much semi-skimmed milk, I wouldn't drink anything other than whole.
Recent research has proven what we all know, whole milk is the best, just like butter is better than margarine
The population / consumer follow like sheep with semi-skimmed
Recent research has proven what we all know, whole milk is the best, just like butter is better than margarine
The population / consumer follow like sheep with semi-skimmed
awkward
Member
- Location
- kerry ireland
educate the consumer to the value of the food they actually eat.
I agree with this point, we need to stop overcomplicating what dairy is and invest more time and money on providing customers with the real benefits of dairy consumption, that cannot be replaced by alternative products. The advantage that most plant based companies have centres around the notion that their products are ‘cruelty free’ and with consumers becoming more ethical about the environment and animal well-being it is important I believe that dairy farmers and producers invest more in these areas.
betweenthelines
Member
- Location
- southwest
I agree with the anti semi-skimmed sentiment-whole milk could and should be advertised as 96% fat free.
Also, I believe that the processors have shot themselves in their collective foot by pushing Semi skimmed. Occasionally (like now) demand for butter & cream outstrips supply so there's extra profit in the surplus cream from semi, but whenever a processor is challenged about profit margins the stock reply is that "the cream market is in freefall. So why take on the added cost of taking the fat out of all the milk that comes into the factory then added it back to create standardised or semi?
Another pointless cost that gets passed onto the consumer
Also, I believe that the processors have shot themselves in their collective foot by pushing Semi skimmed. Occasionally (like now) demand for butter & cream outstrips supply so there's extra profit in the surplus cream from semi, but whenever a processor is challenged about profit margins the stock reply is that "the cream market is in freefall. So why take on the added cost of taking the fat out of all the milk that comes into the factory then added it back to create standardised or semi?
Another pointless cost that gets passed onto the consumer
I agree with you completely with your notion on processor, all these big companies care about is adding to their own pockets, and looking for ways to cheat consumers, by raising prices.
You miss a big point here sorry to say . Through the passage of time some bright person came up with a daft idea and developed something they called yogurt and guess what the idea caught on . Now I don't know how long ago this was but whoever developed this yogurt might of also been dismissed as chasing the latest fashion by their peers , but yet this fashion stuck .
So as with all innovation it may well fail to hit the sweet spot with consumers but it could also be the next big thing in the dairy isle ( or snack isle ) , you never know until you try , and that is why it's called innovation.
- Tags
- dairy dairy farming