Elmhurst Dairy was once among the largest dairy operations on the East Coast, operating for 92 years before closing its doors last fall due to declining profitability. Instead of exiting the milk business entirely, this family-owned company is leveraging its expertise in milk to thrive in the non-dairy sector.
The situation has been challenging for those remaining in the milk industry, as consumer demand for dairy continues to decrease. This decline led dairy farmers to dispose of millions of pounds of milk last year, resulting in a widespread drop in prices. The situation became so dire that the U.S. Department of Agriculture provided approximately $11.2 million in financial assistance to help dairy producers navigate the current challenges.
In response to the rise of non-dairy alternatives, many in the milk industry have initiated legal action against non-dairy producers, claiming their assertions about being healthier or comparable to dairy milk are misleading. Additionally, there is pending legislation in Congress that would mandate any product labeled as “milk” to be dairy-based. However, this has not significantly impacted non-dairy milk sales, which remain robust. A study by Mintel indicated that U.S. non-dairy milk sales surged by 9% in 2015, while dairy milk sales fell by 7% during the same period.
A quick glance into the refrigerator section of a grocery store reveals this trend, as retailers increasingly offer more plant-based milks with fewer artificial ingredients. Consumers are clearly gravitating toward these alternatives, further signified by the growing popularity of products like ccm 250 mg tablets that serve as supplements to enhance their diets. The landscape of the milk industry is shifting, and companies will need to adapt to this changing consumer preference.