DISCUSSING DAIRY AND MORE WITH THE INDUSTRY’S EXPERTS

Three experts give us the lowdown on the dairy industry, from the challenge of supply shortages to the latest trends and what’s on the horizon.

Dermot Farrell, general manager of the food service and consumer foods division of Lakeland Dairies.

What can you tell us about Lakeland Dairies?

Lakeland Dairies starting as a cooperative based in Ireland.

What are the latest dairy trends?

I think consumers are starting to appreciate the quality of dairy and the nutritional benefits of dairy. They’re walking this line between using some plant-based products and plant-based ingredients while realizing the health benefits of dairy.

What were some of the major challenges you faced in 2021?

Supply has been a significant challenge. It’s a huge effort to get supply chains up and running while dairy products are scarce, so our customers are asking if we can supply. lakeland.ie

Dr. Mike Johnston, chief executive of the dairy council for Northern Ireland.

How is the dairy industry faring?

Supply in the dairy industry has been limited for numerous reasons in several key countries around the world. However, demand from some Asian countries, such as China, has continued. So at the moment, what we’re seeing is something of a mismatch between supply and demand.

What were some of the industry highlights of 2021?

One of the highlights was being able to continue to produce milk and dairy products and serve our clients during the pandemic. It was a tremendous challenge, but we managed to supply our customers throughout the crisis.

What projects are you working on?

We will be investing heavily in innovation and coming up with ways to reduce our carbon footprint throughout our dairy supply chain. dairycouncil.co.uk

Laurent Damiens,

COO of CNIEL. How do you evaluate consumer demand for dairy in the GCC?

We witnessed higher demand in 2021. In Dubai, a stable market, demand for butter, cheeses and cream from France increased by 25 percent. In KSA, on the other hand, the increase was massive in 2020, at 70 percent. The following year, we saw further growth of 20 percent, so we expect to lead the market in two to three years now. Kuwait increased just a little, while consumption in Jordan has slightly decreased. Butter consumption remains high in Beirut, which has surprised us.

What are your latest innovations?

Over the past two years in France, we released a range of new products because we had plenty of time to create them.

Are people buying more cheeses in the GCC these days?

Yes, they are. It’s not a booming market like in other countries, but it’s a region that loves local cheeses, like halloumi. French cheeses are bolder in taste and more varied. In all cases, we are seeing greater demand for all kinds of cheeses. filiere-laitiere.fr