PA Offers Processors Re-labeling Options

2020 BRINGS SPORTY AND SPOOKY MILK OPPORTUNITIES

While MilkPEP generates ideas all year round, it strategically activates key programs during peak seasonal windows to connect with key customer targets and amplifies its ongoing demand-driven campaigns. Two such programs include a partnership with the 2020 Summer Olympics and a campaign marking milk as the Official Drink of Halloween slated for fall 2020. To leverage your brand through these opportunities and resources, contact MilkPEP at info@milkpep.org. Support Milk. Support the U.S.A.!

Summer’s coming, and so are the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. MilkPEP is again leveraging an opportunity to partner with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee for white milk and U.S.A. Swimming for chocolate milk. MilkPEP is working with athletes from across the country to tell real stories about how milk plays an important role in their lives. Data shows that past Olympic partnerships helped increase milk sales by more than 5% from 2017 to 2018. (Did you know that nine out of 10 Olympians grew

up drinking milk?) MilkPEP is currently offering pass-through rights of celebrity and hopeful athletes, Olympic logo marks, exclusive social and digital assets and a full shopper marketing program, including free point-of-sale materials. Get in the Halloween Spirit

Before you know it, the leaves will be turning the bright colors of fall in the Northeast, and with that comes Halloween. Through its Milk. Love What’s Real campaign, MilkPEP will again promote the balance of feeding kids nutritious foods without losing the spirit of the spooky season by making chocolate milk the Official Drink of Halloween. This campaign leverages MilkPEP’s national efforts and activations from milk brands across the industry, in-store and online (this helped increase chocolate milk sales by 1.8% last October). Through this campaign, brands have introduced Halloween-themed packaging labels, retail secondary displays and even recipes in past years. MilkPEP promises to have plenty of new assets for this campaign in 2020.

Since 2014, MilkPEP has worked with Feeding America and the dairy industry to make sure underserved children and families get the milk they need. The Great American Milk Drive has delivered more than 33 million gallons of milk through this effort. The program paved the way for the first-ever purchase of fluid milk from the USDA, which was distributed to food banks across the country. Without this assistance, many food banks are only able to supply less than one gallon of milk per person each year. Thanks to milk brands throughout the dairy industry, the USDA has continued to purchase milk for those who do not have regular access to it, while also driving growth in the category. According to MilkPEP, the USDA purchased $65 million in 2019 and is expected to purchase $50 million this year. Eighteen processors have participated since the program started. MilkPEP encourages other processors to join this worthy initiative by submitting bids for USDA milk purchases in your area. More information is available at www.MilkPEP.org. SUPPORT THE GREAT AMERICAN MILK DRIVE

Flavorchem, a company specializing in the creation and manufacturing of flavor and color solutions for the food, beverage and nutraceutical industries, recently released its “Flavor & Trend Forecast 2020” with information on what’s certain to be “hot” in the market for the coming year and beyond. SUSTAINABILITY

Consumers will continue to look for authenticity in their food, bringing sustainability to the forefront, as they make choices based on eco-preservation like reduced packaging, sustainable alternatives, upcycling and even the use of less-than-perfect “ugly” produce in their food and beverage products. PLANT-BASED INNOVATION

While many in our industry reject plant-based products as a true alternative to cow’s milk or other milk products, it is a trend that doesn’t seem to be going away. Consumers are embracing this wave because they believe plantbased products are healthy. Oat “milk” is one of the products highlighted in the Flavorchem study as one to watch. CBD

According to Forbes, “The consumer CBD market is estimated to grow to $2.1 billion in 2020.” Flavorchem predicts that food products containing CBD will become “mainstream” in both foods and beverages in 2020 with coffee shops, cafés and restaurants working CBD oil into their menus. While CBD in dairy is not mentioned in the forecast, Flavorchem expects CBD-infused waters, coffees, teas, energy drinks and alcoholic beverages to gain significant ground in the coming year. Will dairy be far behind? ADVENTUROUS FLAVORS

Unique fruits (think prickly pear, yuzu, blood orange), textural sensations, global flavor profiles from places like North Africa and Southeast Asia, and hybrid products that combine items across product categories are all part of an expected consumer trend for adding interesting flair to traditional dishes. SMARTER SNACKING

On-the-go consumers will continue to look for nutritious but indulgent foods that are convenient, portable (think single-serve packaging) and easy to transport or prepare. Indulgent snacks will be key in 2020 but in smaller portions with healthier ingredients. SOCIAL MEDIA

Not a second goes by when someone isn’t posting a photo of food on social media, and this trend is only going to get stronger in 2020. With this in mind, color and visual appeal are more important than ever, according to Flavorchem. However, brands are now opting for natural color enhancements over artificial colorings. For more information on the latest flavor trends, visit www.flavorchem.com. NEW TRENDS IN FLAVOR AND COLOR FOR 2020