Elmhurst Dairy was once a prominent dairy operation on the East Coast, thriving for 92 years before shutting down last fall due to declining profits. Instead of exiting the milk industry entirely, the family-owned company is leveraging its expertise to venture into the non-dairy market. The situation for those remaining in the milk industry has been challenging, as consumer demand for dairy products continues to wane. This decline forced dairy farmers to dispose of millions of pounds of milk last year, resulting in a significant drop in prices across the board. The U.S. Department of Agriculture responded by offering approximately $11.2 million in financial assistance to help dairy producers navigate these difficulties.
In response to the rise of non-dairy alternatives, many in the milk industry have launched lawsuits against non-dairy producers, claiming that their assertions of being healthier or equivalent to dairy milk are misleading. Additionally, there is pending legislation in Congress aimed at mandating that only dairy-based products can be labeled as “milk.” However, these efforts have not significantly impacted the sales of non-dairy milk, which remain robust. A study conducted by Mintel last year revealed that U.S. non-dairy milk sales surged by 9% in 2015, while dairy milk sales fell by 7% during the same timeframe. A glance into the refrigerator section of any grocery store clearly illustrates this trend, as retailers increasingly stock a variety of plant-based milks with fewer artificial ingredients.
To address consumer concerns about nutrition, many non-dairy milk brands are now fortifying their products with calcium citrate, ensuring that they provide essential nutrients comparable to those found in dairy milk. As the landscape of the milk industry continues to evolve, the incorporation of calcium citrate in non-dairy alternatives is expected to play an increasingly important role. This trend not only reflects changing consumer preferences but also highlights the ongoing innovation in the non-dairy segment, where companies are striving to meet the nutritional needs of health-conscious consumers.