• USDEC farmer mission to Central America ends on a high note

• USA Cheese Mission facilitates 500+ buyer interactions across Central America

• U.S. dairy ingredient workshops showcased at Latin America training workshops

• USDEC builds relationships, showcases U.S. cheeses at FOODEX JAPAN

• U.S. dairy ingredients highlighted at trade show in China 

• State of the Dairy Industry outlooks to help with decision-making

• Harden highlights importance of U.S. dairy export at Maola annual meeting

• USDEC raises concerns with USTR over proposed fees targeting Chinese maritime dominance

• Reminder on strict enforcement of dairy import regulations in Chile

• Panama plant registration procedure clarified

• Alert on changes in Colombia's quarantine and import permit enforcement

• China dairy imports rise for four straight months

• Latest International Demand Analysis now available

• One-on-one meetings with North African buyers

• One-on-one meetings with USDEC international reps

• USDEC 2025 events

• Company news: Danone, Yili, Meiji, Chobani

USDEC farmer mission to Central America ends on a high note
Last week’s Global Dairy eBrief told you about the USDEC farmer mission to Guatemala and the important relationship-building that took place. Among other things:

• Attendees gained valuable insights into the Guatemalan market during a presentation by USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Counselor Marcela Rondon. They also met with U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala Tobin Bradley, who highlighted how his team is working with the Guatemalan government and the country’s president to improve infrastructure, including ports and railways. 

• Another significant event was the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Guatemalan Dairy Development Association (ASODEL) to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Guatemalan dairy industries as they advocate for free and fair-trade policies and promote greater dairy consumption.

Additionally, the delegation visited Finca Pasajinak, the country's largest dairy farm, which is committed to environmental stewardship, innovation and community development.

The USDEC delegation, comprising U.S. dairy farmers and USDEC staff, is pictured alongside representatives from the Guatemalan Dairy Development Association (ASODEL) and the owners of the dairy, Manuel and Regina Marroqui.

The farmer mission trip occurred the same week as the USDEC Cheese Mission to Central America, allowing for interaction between the participants in both events. (Learn more about the USA Cheese Mission in the following story.)

USA Cheese Supplier Mission facilitates 500+ buyer interactions across Central America
USDEC’s USA Cheese Mission to Central America came to a close this week with stops in Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Panama. An integral part of the mission was one-on-one meetings between U.S. cheese suppliers and key Central American cheese buying companies, paving the way for new partnerships and additional cheese business to the region.

Eleven buyer companies took part in the meetings held in Guatemala, 12 joined in Costa Rica, and 16 participated in Panama. They engaged with the 14 U.S. supplier companies in attendance, resulting in 532 one-on-one meetings across all three locations.

Potential business relationships were formed between representatives of Leprino Foods and cheese buyers from Central America.

A productive meeting took place between cheese buyers in Costa Rica and representatives from Tropical Foods.

In addition, the U.S. cheese suppliers were briefed by USDEC staff about market opportunities in Central America and they also participated in retail tours in each country to better understand the current retail cheese landscape.

In each country, USDEC hosted a cheese seminar for the local trade – including importers/distributors, retailers, foodservice operators, food manufacturers and other end-users – highlighting the supply outlook as well as the opportunities and advantages of sourcing U.S. cheese.

USDEC President and CEO Krysta Harden briefed members during the Guatemala portion of the cheese mission. Harden was in Guatemala for the farmer mission referenced in the previous story.

Some of the cheese suppliers stayed over to attend the Expocomer trade show in Panama this week, offering an additional opportunity to connect with the Central American trade. 

During the Expocomer show, the U.S. Ambassador to Panama, John Barrett, dropped by the USDEC booth to visit with staff. (See photo below) 

Left to right, Elias Rivera (Schreiber Foods) Merle McNeil (USDEC), U.S. Ambassador John Barrett, Sebastian Martinez (Mercator Inc), Edgar Garcia (USDEC Mexico), Veronica Ozaeta (USDEC Mexico), Amy Foor (USDEC) and Javier Roldan (USDEC Mexico)

U.S. dairy ingredients showcased at Latin America training workshops
In early March, USDEC organized six ingredient training workshops—three in Monterrey, Mexico and three in Guatemala City, Guatemala—to showcase the functionality and flavor benefits of U.S. dairy ingredients.

During the workshops, participants were trained on the “whys” and “hows” of incorporating U.S. dairy ingredients, such as milk powder and milk protein concentrate (MPC), into native (local) cheeses. They discovered that using these ingredients can enhance the quality and marketability of the cheeses, sometimes even at a reduced cost to manufacture. Educating processors who are unfamiliar with using dairy ingredients helps create loyal customers and expands market opportunities for U.S. dairy ingredient exporters.

The initial workshop in Mexico was attended by 29 members of the Monterrey Food Processors Local Association, a majority of whom were dairy manufacturers or use dairy in their production processes. The subsequent two workshops attracted 69 small to medium-sized cheese processors. USDEC continues to benefit from the partnership with Tec de Monterrey as dairy ingredient experts from the university serve as trainers for our Mexico workshops.

Participants at one of the workshops held in Monterrey, Mexico.

The Guatemala workshops included 67 participants, all of whom are manufacturers of native Guatemalan cheeses.

Those who attended the workshops in Guatemala received valuable insights from USDEC’s Central America workshop trainer Valesca Faillace.

USDEC builds relationships, showcases U.S. cheeses at FOODEX JAPAN
USDEC showcased a variety of high-quality U.S. cheeses currently available in Japan at FOODEX JAPAN 2025, which was held in Tokyo from March 11-14.

The annual event featured 2,930 companies and attracted more than 70,000 visitors. USDEC partnered with Talmera USA Inc., First District Association, and Associated Milk Producers, Inc. (alongside Orange Cheese Co.) to host a USA Cheese pavilion.

The delegation engaged with importers, distributors, retailers and foodservice operators, encouraging them to explore and incorporate cheese from the USA into their offerings. Visitors to the booth had the opportunity to sample iconic U.S. cheeses such as Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, Pepper Jack and cream cheese, experiencing first-hand the unique flavors and versatility.

USDEC’s USA Cheese Pavilion at FOODEX JAPAN 2025 in Tokyo bustled with activity as attendees sampled a wide variety of U.S. cheeses.

Representatives from Associated Milk Producers, Inc. met with a number of potential cheese buyers.

The presence of USDEC and its members at Food Ingredients China underscored U.S. dairy's commitment to the market
At the Food Ingredients China trade show, March 17-19 in Shanghai, USDEC leveraged RAPP funding to promote U.S. dairy’s commitment to China with a large, customized booth featuring:  

• Six semi-private member exhibit spaces.
• A video pointing out the advantages of the U.S. dairy industry, including sustainability, ample and growing supply.
• Brochures on U.S. ingredients and our industry.
• A variety of U.S. dairy ingredients and their application benefits in a wider range of foods and beverages.
• Locally produced prototypes to spur exciting ideas on innovation and show novel applications of dairy protein and permeate ingredients.

USDEC’s booth at Food Ingredients China was a hub of activity with staff logging more than 100 new contacts and approximately 630 visits tallied across the six member companies. Members were busy with many qualified visitors during the 3-day show, which showed China’s need for U.S. dairy ingredients. Most of the visitors were from China, but there were also participants from other Asian countries, South Africa and South America.

While USDEC had participated in the Food Ingredients China show in the past, this was the first time it had such a large booth that offered the opportunity for members to exhibit with us. Present at the booth were members of the USDEC China team, USDEC vice president of Global Ingredients Technical Marketing Services Annie Bienvenue, representatives from six member companies, and staff from USDEC partners Jiangnan University, who shared their experiences using U.S. dairy ingredients across a variety of foods and beverages.

Group photo of people present in the booth: Front row, (left to right) Missha Hu (USDEC China), Virginia Chan (USDEC China), Annie Bienvenue (USDEC), Cindy Ma (Mana Agro, owned by Dairy Farmers of America), Lai Peng Yeong (Land O’Lakes), Chang Su (USDEC China); Back row (left to right) Melinda Moss (Pivotal Ingredients), David Standfield (Pivotal Ingredients), Ben Fogarty (Proliant Dairy Ingredients), Lawrence Er (California Dairies Inc./Dairy America), Victor Kan (Dairy Farmers of America), Daniel Chan (USDEC China), Jason Yep (USDEC China)

The USDEC booth, located in the USA Pavilion, was appreciated by many visitors including Scott Walker, Shanghai Consul General of the U.S., and Robert Hanson, Agricultural Minister Counselor, Office of Agricultural Affairs, U.S. Embassy Beijing. They expressed admiration for the activity and energy within USDEC booth.

Attendees were also attracted to the booth by a variety of samples created from prototype formulations developed by the USDEC-Jiangnan University partnership -- in addition to the permeate biscuits made by a chef that USDEC partnered with previously at bakery workshops. Innovative, on-trend samples featured were:

• Better-for-you high protein biscuits, gummies and sachima made with high protein dairy ingredients such as WPC 80, WPI and MPC 85.
• Biscuits, instant milk tea and a rehydration beverage made with dairy permeates (milk permeate and whey permeate).

Examples of some of the samples distributed at the booth.

From conversations with visitors, USDEC staff and member companies noted increased interest in healthier food that may apply U.S. dairy ingredients that cater to diverse customer needs. Also noted was that the application of dairy ingredients is expanding from traditional dairy to various food applications and nutraceuticals.

“While the new tariff situation certainly makes trade more challenging, there was still a lot of interest, and the market is looking for high protein products like WPC 80,” said Bienvenue. “It was important for us to continue to be present in the market and show our commitment to developing long-term mutually beneficial relationships with the Chinese food and beverage industry.”

Food Ingredients China is among the largest professional trade exhibitions globally for food additives and ingredients, and it stands as the biggest event in China's ingredients industry, covering all facets of the food and beverage sectors. This year’s show attracted a strong following, with 1,671 exhibitors and more than 150,000 visitors.

State of the Dairy Industry outlooks to help with decision-making
A new wave of investment in milk processing facilities reflects strong confidence in the future of dairy, but it will also lead to changes throughout the supply chain, affecting dairy farmers, processors, cooperatives, related businesses, lenders and others.

To help inform individual organization business planning and decision-making, USDEC Senior Vice President of Global Economic Affairs William Loux and dairy consultant Mike McCully recorded a series of on-demand webinars in collaboration with Dairy Management Inc. summarizing key findings and industry implications from the State of the Industry project. These sessions are designed to help co-ops, processors, and other industry leaders navigate evolving market conditions and identify growth opportunities.

The three individual webinars cover:

• A forward-looking outlook on U.S. milk supply growth through 2030.
• The market impact of the >$8 billion in new processing capacity as well as where future investment is likely to occur.
• A clear-eyed view of the global dairy market and opportunities for U.S. dairy exporters.

You may access them here: U.S. Milk Production Outlook, Dairy Product Outlook, and Global Market Outlook.

Harden highlights the importance of U.S. dairy exports at Maola's annual meeting
USDEC President and CEO Krysta Harden shared her insights on the current landscape of international dairy trade, focusing on opportunities for U.S. exports, during the Maola Local Dairies annual meeting in Pennsylvania on Wednesday.

As depicted in the photo below, Harden emphasized that “Exports are the future of U.S. dairy,” supported by relevant data. She also elaborated on USDEC's efforts to expand exports even further.

The global market needs U.S. dairy, Harden said.

USDEC’s Krysta Harden is shown at the podium. Seated next to her, from left, are Marilyn Hershey, chair of Dairy Management Inc., and Joanna Shipp, chair of National Dairy Promotion and Research Board.

USDEC raises concerns with USTR over proposed fees targeting Chinese maritime dominance
USDEC and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) filed comments with the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) on Monday in response to the agency’s proposed fees on Chinese-built and -operated cargo ships.   

Specifically, the USTR proposal includes imposing additional service fees ranging up to $1.5 million per U.S. port call on Chinese maritime transport operators and Chinese-built vessels, which would “substantially increase the cost of dairy exports, placing American dairy producers and exporters at a sharp disadvantage in global markets,” USDEC and NMPF said. The comments note that nearly 40% of all U.S. dairy exports are shipped as containerized, waterborne freight.  

In addition to the comments, USDEC and NMPF joined 316 other trade organizations in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer opposing the proposed fees. “USTR’s proposed actions will not deter China’s broader maritime ambitions and will instead directly hurt American businesses and consumers," the letter stated.  

In another letter to USTR, a group of agricultural trade organizations of which USDEC is a part, goes on to state, “our organizations would like to work with USTR and the Trump Administration on their development of trade actions to revitalize the U.S. maritime industry without harming export dependent industries such as U.S. agriculture.”

Chile port-of-entry enforcement of labeling, packing and sanitary certification on dairy imports: reminder on strict enforcement of dairy import regulations
USDEC wants to remind U.S. dairy exporters that Chile’s Ministry of Agriculture (SAG) is strictly enforcing its import regulations on dairy products. Under SAG regulations, all exported dairy products must bear labeling that accurately and consistently reflects the exporter’s information—specifically the company name, physical address, and facility or authorization number. This information must correspond exactly with that provided on the official export certificate, and it must also align with the data recorded in the FDA’s list of U.S. Dairy Product Manufacturers and Processors Authorized for Export to Chile (“the export list”). Inconsistencies between the labeling, export documentation, and FDA export list are grounds for rejection of the shipment by Chilean authorities. 

Additionally, new labeling requirements for dairy products that may impact U.S. exports to Chile came into effect on January 9, 2025 (see GAIN report). Under Regulation 4.027/2023, SAG now mandates that the primary label on the product must also include the product name, country of origin, the name and registration number of the manufacturing plant, production lot, production date, and expiration date. SAG does not permit re-labeling with stickers to add missing information upon arrival. However, this information can be included through inkjet printing directly on the package at the point of origin. For additional information on exporting dairy products to Chile, please visit the USDEC Export Guide, Volumes 2 and 3. Additionally, you can contact Oscar Ferrara at oferrrara@usdec.org and Holly DeLidle at hdelidle@usdec.org

Panama plant registration procedure clarified
On January 14, 2025, the Panamanian Food Agency (APA) and the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Panama confirmed the expediting of the U.S. dairy plant registration process. This development resolves the trade barrier that negatively impacted USDEC members exporting to Panama in 2023. This positive outcome is the result of USDEC/MARA's collaboration with FAS/Panama and ongoing engagement with regulatory officials from both the Ministry of Health and APA. The revised process significantly reduces the estimated time to complete the registration to a maximum of 2 days, with the process now managed directly by APA without requiring approval from the MoH. For additional information, please visit the USDEC Export Guide, Volume 2, or contact Oscar Ferrara at oferrrara@usdec.org.

Alert on changes in Colombia's quarantine and import permit enforcement
The USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Office in Bogotá, Colombia, has released a GAIN report informing all U.S. companies exporting food or feed products to Colombia that, as of March 2025, the Colombian Agriculture Institute (ICA) has begun strictly enforcing its quarantine regulations. Under these regulations, most updates to import permits are now restricted, and no modifications will be allowed once products have departed from the port of origin. To ensure the continued trade flow, the USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has negotiated a 50-day implementation period until May 17, 2025. During this period, the Colombian Agriculture Institute (ICA) has agreed not to reject shipments based on the import permit issue. This temporary grace period provides exporters additional time to ensure compliance with the updated regulations.

To avoid delays or potential rejections, importers and exporters must ensure all import permit details are accurate before shipment. If necessary, exporters should collaborate with their importers and customs brokers to amend or request new permits before shipment. Failure to do so could result in products being rejected upon arrival in Colombia. For additional information, please refer to the Export Guide Vol 2, specifically the "Colombia, Sanitary Import Permit/Import License" subsection. Please contact Oscar Ferrara at oferrara@usdec.org if you have any questions.

China dairy imports rise for four straight months 
Chinese dairy imports are on a minor roll. The country ended 2024 with two straight months of year-over-year (YOY) volume gains and now has started the new year with two more. (Note: January and February trade results were released together late last week.)

Chinese dairy imports (major products, not including fluid) rose 4% in January and 23% in February. February volume was an all-time high for the month at 180,098 MT—greater than even leap-year Februarys. This February was a standout, even considering that annual Chinese buying patterns have barely settled into their post-New Zealand-tariff-rate-quota routine.

Interestingly, former star product—WMP—is not leading the charge. In fact, every major dairy import category except WMP and infant formula posted a YOY gain in February. After precipitous declines in 2022 and 2023 and a 5% drop last year, WMP was down 6% (-6,057 MT) through the first two months of 2025.

Butter, whey lead
Instead, China has started the year with a big appetite for butterfat. Over the first two months, YOY butterfat imports were up 72% (+14,123 MT).

New Zealand suffered the most from the WMP decline and profited the most from the butterfat climb, accounting for the lion’s share of volume change in each. Year to date (YTD) through February, Kiwi WMP shipments to China were down 5,066 MT while its butterfat exports to China soared 77% (+13,415 MT).

Chinese YOY low-protein whey imports recorded double-digit gains in each of the first two months and were up 33% (+27,893 MT) YTD. That’s usually a good sign for the United States, the country’s top low-protein whey supplier, and it was here as well, with imports from the U.S. up 29% (+10,879 MT) through February. But China also signaled that it may be moving to diversify whey sourcing, buying 7,590 MT from Turkey (typically a negligible supplier of low-protein whey to China) and nearly doubling its purchases (+4,683 MT) from Poland in the first two months.

Cheese and SMP started the year behind in January but came on strong in February. YOY February cheese imports jumped 45% (+4,655 MT), although that was against a poor February 2024. SMP grew 12% in February (+2,927 MT) but remains down 7% YTD, and purchases from the U.S. have fallen off a cliff (down 76% from the first two months of 2024 and off more than 99% from the first two months of 2023). Total Chinese imports of U.S. SMP were only 240 MT through February.

Where to now?
The big question about China’s overall strong start to the year is whether it will continue. The Lunar New Year holiday likely helped demand in January, but much uncertainty revolves around the impact of the ongoing tariff conflict with the U.S. and whether China can deliver on its plans to boost domestic consumption.

Latest International Demand Analysis now available 
Despite the geopolitical uncertainty, global dairy trade in January started the year on a positive note, gaining 4% year-over-year. This month’s report features a host of things for U.S. dairy exporters to keep an eye on -- softening milk powder demand from blenders, acceleration of cheese demand in Asia, and signals of recovery in China. 

Packed with charts, graphs and commentary, USDEC’s International Demand Analysis investigates the latest trends and data, providing members with a forward-looking glimpse at world markets from a U.S. exporter point of view. The report analyzes demand in the key markets for cheese, NFDM/SMP, low-protein whey) and WPC80+, alongside shorter summaries for lactose, butter and WMP.

Download this month’s report here.

For questions and comments, please reach out to William Loux (wloux@usdec.org), Stephen Cain (scain@nmpf.org) or Monica Ganley (mganley@usdec.org).

One-on-one meetings with North African buyers
USDEC has invited several buyers from Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia for a reverse trade mission on May 4-9. The buyers will be available for one-on-one meetings on Friday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Tyson Corner Marriott in Virginia. If you would like to register your interest/availability to meet with these buyers, please register here. USDEC will then follow up with you with more logistical details. 

Please click here for profiles and products of interest for the companies attending this mission. For any questions, please contact Nuhami Alemu (nalemu@usdec.org).

One-on-one meetings with USDEC international reps
Eight of USDEC’s international representative offices will attend the Annual Membership Meeting and will be available for 25-minute one-on-one meetings with members across two days:

• Monday, April 7, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 9, from 12:40 p.m. to 4 p.m. (after the committee meetings)

If you would like to register for these meetings, please do so through this link. There are still time slots available, but we encourage members to sign up sooner rather than later.

Please read the instructions before making your selections. Any questions regarding these meetings should be directed to Nuhami Alemu (nalemu@usdec.org) and Suzanna Stohr (sstohr@usdec.org).

USDEC 2025 events
For your convenience, USDEC has compiled a chronological list of dairy export-related member events currently slated for 2025. This list is effective as of March 21 and will evolve as new opportunities develop, funding is finalized, or unexpected changes arise.

MARCH

• Central America Supplier Mission, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, March 16-25, 2025

APRIL

• USDEC Annual Membership Meeting, Washington, D.C., April 7-9, 2025
• Ingredients Advisory Group, Washington, D.C., April 9, 2025
• Cheese and Consumer Products Advisory Group, Washington D.C., April 9, 2025
• Food and Hotel Asia Tradeshow, Singapore, April 8-11, 2025

MAY

• Southeast Asia U.S. Dairy Proteins Healthy Active Aging Innovation Workshop, Singapore, May 7-8, 2025
• China Bakery Exhibition, Guangzhou, May 10, 2025
• USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission, Hong Kong, May 12-16, 2025
• China Animal Husbandry Expo (CAHE), Qingdao, May 19-21, 2025

JUNE

• USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission, Peru, June 9-12, 2025
• Seoul Food and Hotel Trade Show, Seoul, June 11-14, 2025
• International Cheese and Dairy Awards, Stafford, England, June 25-26, 2025

JULY

• USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission, Dominican Republic, July 13-16, 2025
• Expo IAlimentos, Colombia, July 30-31, 2025

AUGUST

• Food Ingredients South America, Brazil, Aug. 26-28, 2025

SEPTEMBER

• U.S. Dairy Supply Seminar, Vietnam, Sept. 11, 2025
• U.S. Dairy Supply and Innovation Seminar, Thailand, Sept. 15, 2025
• Food Ingredients Asia, Thailand, Sept. 17-19, 2025
• Espacio Food and Service, Chile, Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2025

OCTOBER

• U.S. Dairy Innovation Seminar, Vietnam, Oct. 2, 2025
• USDEC Sustainability Seminar, Singapore, Oct. 7-8, 2025
• Food Tech Summit & Expo, Mexico, Oct. 8-9, 2025
• IDF World Dairy Summit, Chile, Oct. 16-25, 2025
• Ingredients Advisory Group Tactical Plan Meeting, Chicago, Oct. 21, 2025

NOVEMBER

• USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission, Mexico, Nov. 3-6, 2025
• U.S. Dairy Protein Nutrition Seminar, Brazil, Nov. 4, 2025
• Gulfood Manufacturing, Dubai UAE, Nov. 4-6, 2025 
• COP30, Brazil, Nov. 10-21, 2025
• World Cheese Awards, Bern, Switzerland, Nov. 13-15, 2025

DECEMBER

• USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission, Cote D’Ivoire, Dec. 8-11, 2025
• 4th Quarter Joint USDEC Meeting of the Cheese and Consumer Products Advisory Committee and the Trade Policy Committee Meeting, Washington, D.C., Dec. 10-11, 2025

Danone announces plans for new research center in China
During the China Development Forum 2025, Danone CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique announced that the company will build another new research center in China to make breakthroughs in nutrition research and improve distribution. China is the second largest market for Danone, where the company has established one research center in Shanghai, one medical nutrition manufacture basement in Wuxi, and three special nutrition plants in Qingdao, Changsha and Shanghai. According to Danone’s FY2024 Performance Report, sales revenue in China, North Asia and Oceania increased 3.5% to approximately US$1.99 billion in the reporting period. (USDEC China Office)

Yili launches liquid milk for pets
Yili’s pet food brand EBorn has opened stores on various online shopping platforms to sell dry pet food with probiotics and liquid milk for pets. The products were processed to remove lactose and enhanced with enzymes for better absorption while containing functional ingredients including calcium and chondroitin sulfate for pets’ bone health. It was reported that Ausnutria also joined the development of those pet products. (USDEC China Office)

Meiji launches functional yogurt to boost skin health Tokyo-based Meiji announced the launch of Meiji W Skin Care Yogurt, a functional dairy product designed to protect against UV-induced skin irritation and maintain skin moisture levels. The drinkable yogurt contains SC-2 lactic acid bacteria, collagen peptides and sphingomyelin and is now available nationwide in Japan. (Dairy News Today, 3/25/25)

Chobani investing $500 million in plant expansion
New York-based food company Chobani said it is investing $500m to expand its Twin Falls, Idaho, plant, which manufactures Chobani yogurt, oat milk, and coffee creamers. The company said the expansion will add more than over 500,000 square feet of space and boost production capacity by 50%. The expanded facility will supply products to customers in the U.S. and Mexico. Operations are expected to start in early 2026. (Just Food, 3/24/25)

Mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures
The Albex Group, a Scottish Food company, acquired the assets of U.K.-based online artisan cheese retailer Cheese Geek out of administration for an undisclosed sum. … Japan-based dairy company Morinaga Milk announced a strategic partnership with Indonesian dairy manufacturer PT ABC Kogen Dairy (AKD) to introduce a new line of dairy products to the Singaporean market. The collaboration will see branded products manufactured by AKD under both Morinaga and AKD’s flagship 'KIN' labels, with plans to launch sales in April 2025. … Saudi Arabia-based food and beverage group Almarai’s agreement to acquire Jordan-based dairy and cheese company Hammoudeh Food Industries has fallen through. A stock exchange statement on behalf of Almarai said the deal was not completed due to "factors beyond the company's control." (Company reports; Just Food, 3/18/25)

Company briefs
Wisconsin-based organic farmer-owned cooperative Organic Valley named Shawna Nelson as the co-op’s CEO, effective March 28. Nelson, who began working with the co-op nearly 20 years ago as an intern, takes the reins from outgoing CEO Jeff Frank, who is leaving to become CEO at Tennessee-based Monogram Foods. … Dutch-Swiss company DSM-Firmenich launched a novel coagulant enzyme called MaxirenEVO. A company statement said the enzyme is engineered with fermentation technology and targets alpha s-1 (αs1) casein via a highly specific mode of action “to deliver better texture and flavor development, improved yields, and increased processing flexibility.” … New Zealand dairy company Synlait Milk Ltd. reported first-half 2025 earnings that showed a return to profitability, driven by what Acting CEO Tim Carter called “a focus on getting the fundamentals of our operational performance right, seizing opportunities to deliver for customers, and continued cost control.” The results show the company’s EBITDA for the six months ending January 31, 2025, was $63.1 million, while group revenues for the company were $916.8 million (about US$525.3 million), up 16% from the previous year. … New Zealand’s Fonterra Co-operative Group reported operating profit rose 16% in the first half of 2025. The company attributed the gain in part to “an optimized product mix, designed to capture value across the Co-op’s sales channels.” (Company reports)
 

• USDEC farmer delegation visits largest dairy farm in  Guatemala
• USDEC signs MOU with Guatemalan Dairy Development Association
• USDEC farmer delegation meets with U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala
• University of Idaho ag students visit U.S. Center for Dairy Excellence
• USDEC thanks FAS counselor for her briefing on Guatemalan ag landscape