A new generation of contemporary products, targeting health-conscious consumers, shook things up in the dairy case this year, including soy milk, specialty eggs, organically grown items and related products.
Soy milk comes in many flavors, sizes and multiple brands, and good thing: Industry researchers reported seeing triple-digit increases in dollar growth last year.
Cow's milk got new selling points, too. The industry began switching over to opaque milk containers made of high-density polyethylene, proven to protect the beverage from the negative, flavor-changing effects of ultraviolet light.
Milk packaged in small-sized and personal-sized containers continued their invasion of the dairy cases. Milk brands that promise to do something good for consumers' health also got a boost, with some retailers moving hormone-free milk products into more prominent spots in the milk section.
Retailers set aside more space in their cases for a new breed of shell eggs that make various health claims. Retailers must also contend with new regulations mandating storage temperatures for shell eggs, as well as on-pack labels regarding undercooked or raw eggs' potential to cause salmonella poisoning.