Mejeritekniskt Forum

In recent years Greek yoghurt has been a megatrend worldwide – including Sweden, where both Arla and Skånemejerier focus on Mediterranean yoghurts and other fermented milk products this summer.

Last week the dairies revealed some of their summer news. Skånemejerier presented a range of breakfast yoghurts with taste inspiration from Turkey and Greece (photo)— under Lindahls Salakis brand which is a market leader within cooking yogurt.

– It feels obvious that Salakis should also be on the breakfast table. It has been difficult to travel around the world lately, but we can still travel through food. These yoghurts give you a feeling of the Mediterranean at your own breakfast table, Martina Pettersson, marketing manager at Skånemejerier says and adds.

– In the tests we have made, we see that there is a great curiosity to try these products.

Read more HERE

Arla also launces four new variations of Greek yoghurt for the summer – for snacks and breakfasts.

The new Arla® Greek yogurt is made in the traditional way but with a modern creaminess that feels smooth and full. With the flavours natural, strawberry and lemon, there is a yoghurt for everyone, it is stated in a press release.

– Young consumers demand a yoghurt that both feels healthy and tastes good, and many feels that the alternatives available today are too sour or runny. For them, we have developed a really creamy and smooth yoghurt that is easy to vary with your favourite accessories or eat exactly as it is, Caroline Arentoft, Brand Manager Arla® Greek yoghurt says. Read more HERE

Among other dairy news this summer, Skånemejerier / Lindahls offers a new and refreshing drinking yoghurt with a fresh lemon taste. And Norrmejeriers presents its annual Sommer drink ‘Solskensfil’, which this summer comes in two flavours: Apple/Pear and Watermelon.

Ett nytt mycket intressant samt angeläget webinar från våra danska vänner  Mejeriteknisk Selskab.

Dairy has become the black sheep in the climate debate

Raw milk and dairy production face some opposition in the current climate debate – their positive impacts on some of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals seem forgotten. Especially, the vital contribution of dairy to good health and zero hunger plus economic growth, but also indirectly to some of the other goals is rarely mentioned.

This seminar will look at some of the most frequently mentioned challenges in the public debate: methane emission from cattle and how feeding can reduce this. Furthermore, the seminar will give examples of sustainability strategies when building completely new production facilities and how clean technologies such as electrification can be implemented in powder production, also reuse of water from whey will be discussed.

A take home message from the seminar will be that everyone can and should contribute to reduce the climate impact of today’s dairy – every small step is needed, while we wait for the larger steps to become available or implemented.

Price:
Members of the Danish Society of Dairy Technology: DKK 2,195 + VAT
Non-members: DKK 2,695 + VAT
Online participation of group up to 5 people: DKK 4,995 + VAT
(the 5 people must be from same site, but will receive individual links)

Please be invited to the seminar Sustainable Dairy on June 2^nd 10-16 hrs.

The seminar is available both online and physically at Hotel Legoland.
Please be aware of the opportunity of registering 5 people from same site as a group as online participants.

See the full programme HERE.
Registration DMS-seminar: Sustainable Dairy

Deadline for registration: 25^th May 2021 (for physical attendance – deadline for online participation will be extended).

Mvh Styrelsen

Göran Olofsson has been appointed new Chairman of the Board of Norrmejerier as Ulla Bergström is leaving the Board after 14 years.

The appointment became clear in connection with Norrmejerier’s digital general meeting, which gathered around 40 representatives from all over Norrland.

Göran Olofsson (photo), who has been on Norrmejerier’s board since 2007, in recent years as vice chairman states in a press release, that a competitive price for the raw milk material is a matter of the heart for him. The new Chairman admits, that Norrmejerier is affected by the global and national market, but he says:

– We have good local products, we have loyal local consumers, and we have very good conditions to produce milk up here in the north with just enough sun and access to water. I therefore see that Norrmejerier has good conditions to be able to continue to be a strong Norrland dairy association that does good for Norrland.

Ulla Bergström, who hands over the chairmanship to Göran Olofsson, will now concentrate on her farm with 70 dairy cows in Svensbyn outside Piteå. She wishes Göran and the board good luck.

The annual general meeting supported the board’s proposal for a dividend of the association’s profit of SEK 36 million, which gives an average of 17 öre per kilo of raw milk material to the Norrland dairy farmers.

The actual milk price, including the proposed profit sharing, thus increased from SEK 3.56 / kg (2019) to SEK 3.61 / kg (2020).

Norrmejerier’s result in 2020, after financial items, was SEK 63 million. Read more and see the new Board HERE

To secure future delivery and efficiency, Arla is investing SEK 52 million in a new packaging line for cups at the dairy in Linköping.

– Every year we invest around 100 million in the dairy in Linköping. This year it will be more. We are constantly reviewing opportunities to develop production in order to meet consumer demand. Presently we produce 1.2 million cups of crème fraiche and sour cream (gräddfil) every week, with the new packaging line we will be able to increase those volumes, Mathias Carlsson, dairy manager at Arla’s dairy in Linköping, says in a press release.

The new packaging line has a more modern control system, is more flexible to handle and enables the use of sustainable packaging solutions.

– We have had the two current packaging lines since 1998, so it is time to renew. The new packaging line is not only twice as efficient as the current two, it also easier to adjustment in the future, Mathias Carlsson.

During a transition period, the two existing packaging lines will be in operation to ensure a smooth transition and that production will continue as usual. Then one of the old packaging lines for cups will be removed. The installation is expected to be finished in June 2022.

In addition to crème fraiche and sour cream, the dairy in Linköping also produces milk, yoghurt and lactose-free products. Read more HERE

A research from Tetra Pak reveals that a third of consumers have increased their cheese consumption during the pandemic

In a press release the food packaging and processing company Tetra Pak announces the development of 14 new Best Practice Lines (BPLs) for cheese manufacturers. At the same time the Swedish-Swiss company presents a new global research, that show a growing appetite for cheese during the pandemic.

COVID-19 has shifted consumer behaviours in many ways and cheese is no exception, with a third (36%) of consumers saying they have significantly increased their intake of cheese throughout the global pandemic. This is due, in part, to the fact that we are spending more time at home, providing us with increased opportunities to eat cheese, such as when watching TV (36%), with a drink (35%) or as a quick lunch (35%).

People are very attuned to the wellbeing benefits of cheese, acknowledging that it is healthy (56%), nutritious (51%) and high in protein (42%) and calcium (41%).
It is apparent that there is real demand from consumers to know the origins of their food, with an overwhelming majority (77%) expressing an interest in the process of cheese production, specifically the ingredients and where they are from (72%), where the product is made (52%), the heat treatments used (41%) and the sterile production (37%). Over a third (36%) also place particular value on environmentally friendly packaging.

Fred Griemsmann, Vice President Cheese & Powder Systems at Tetra Pak says:

– Cheese has been an essential part of our diet for centuries and it is set to remain so for many years to come. People are becoming more adventurous in terms of taste and texture, and we have the facility to accommodate this, ensuring that there is no compromise on the overall quality of the end result.

Read more about the research and Tetra Pak Line-solutions for Cheese Manufacturers HERE

During the early summer of 2021, Arla’s snack products will be reduced by 21 tonnes of plastic when almost 7 million disposable spoons are removed. Instead the consumers must use their own spoons.

The plastic reduction takes place for KESO® Cottage Cheese, Yoggi® and Arla Ko® Greek yogurt. Reducing the amount of plastic is an important part of Arla’s packaging strategy.

– We work continuously to reduce the amount of material and increase the proportion of renewable and recycled materials in our packaging. Being able to lose 21 tons of plastic per year is incredibly positive. If we look at how far many of our consumers have already come on the sustainability journey, we are convinced that they are ready to start carrying a regular spoon in their bag, Christer Lundin, marketing director at Arla, says in a press release.

Besides from out phasing the disposable spoons, Arla will reduce the amount of plastic in the lid for KESO® by approximately 2 grams. For KESO®, this means a plastic reduction of a total of 16 tonnes of plastic per year, the corresponding figure for Yoggi® and Arla Ko® Greek yoghurt is 5 tonnes. In total, 6.9 million disposable spoons are removed.

Arla Sweden’s sustainability goals for packaging:

• 100 percent recyclable packaging by 2025
• No virgin plastic in packaging by 2030

Read more HERE

Arlas raises the milk price in May by 15.8 öre per kilo for conventional milk and by 21 öre for organic milk.

The strong industrial prices for butter and skimmed milk in Europe have an impact on Arla’s prices, which increases by May.

In Sweden, Arlas’ account price for conventional milk is increasing by 15.8 öre / kilo and adds up to be 381.6 öre / kg. This is the highest Swedish price for conventional milk during the 20 years Arla has available statistics for. So the company states according to ATL

The price for organic milk increases 21 öre. The extra increase in the eco-price in Sweden is driven by improved demand, Arla writes. The on-account price for organic milk will be 459.5 öre per kg.

Arla reports that prices in the commodity market have been stable over the past month, and is also optimistic about the near future, where: ‘the outlook for the time being looks stable’.

ATL has asked some dairy farmers about their thoughts on the new increase. Though happy, they all find the increase is too low.

Read more HERE

As a dairy, it is our responsibility to do what we can to reduce global warming, Anna-Karin Karlsson, sustainability director, says about Norrmejerier’s new international commitment with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

– Climate change affects everyone. To secure the future of future generations, action is required at all levels of society. Our business includes everything from agriculture and production to cold storage and transport. By setting science-based climate goals, Norrmejerier can work even more systematically with sustainability, Anna-Karin Karlsson sustainability director at Norrmejerier says in a press release.

To reduce climate impact, Norrmejerier now commits itself to the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping global warming well below 2 degrees. The commitment takes place within the framework of the international collaboration Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and has been signed by CEO Anders Fredriksson (photo). The next step will be to set future science-based climate goals, which will be reviewed and approved by SBTi.

The dairy company has previously implemented a number of measures to reduce its carbon footprint. The energy supply at the dairies is 99 percent renewable. At the same time co-distribution and a higher proportion of climate-smart fuels have contributed to reducing the emissions. Norrmejerier have plans to invest ten million kronor over five years for a climate change.

Read more HERE

91 percent of Swedes have great confidence in the Swedish food industry. This is the highest figure since Livsmedelsföretagen started the yearly survey. Another current study shows that the consumers are willing to pay for Swedish goods.

Since 1963 the organization Livsmedelsföretagen has surveyed the Swedes’ confidence in their food industry. In the first survey 63 percent stated that they had great confidence. Since then, the trend has pointed upwards. In the latest survey, conducted in November 2020, 91 percent answered that they have great confidence in the industry.

– When the corona pandemic struck in the spring of 2020, the industry was exposed to great strain. Many Swedes started hoarding food, but our member companies kept production going and quickly filled up the store shelves. Thanks to their availability, there was never a shortage of food. Companies take reliability, safety, sustainability and quality issues very seriously, and their way of dealing with this crisis has strengthened consumers’ already great confidence, Björn Hellman, CEO of Livsmedelsföretagen says in a press release. Read more HERE

Another survey from the labeling scheme ‘Från Sverige’ also shows that the Swedes are increasingly willing to pay for Swedish goods. The study shows that:

9 out of 10 consumers believe that the Swedish food industry is important (92%)

8 out of 10 consumers want to benefit Swedish farmers (84%)

7 out of 10 thinks that origin labelling makes it easier when shopping for food (75%)

7 out of 10 thinks that it is important to buy Swedish raw materials (69%)

7 out of 10 are willing to pay more for Swedish raw materials (73%)

The survey was conducted by Demoskop in January 2021. Read more HERE

Region Skåne is facing a big challenge vaccinating the population. Skånemejerier assists to make the distribution of vaccine more efficient by lending logistic expertise to the region.

The experience of distributing dairy products in Skåne can be used in the distribution of corona vaccine. And the knowledge of refrigerated transports in particular is valuable in distributing the vaccine doses in a safe way. Therefore, Skånemejerier lends a person from its logistic team to help the health authorities.

William Smygegård will be on loan until summer. Together with the region’s project group, he will be involved in developing a model for how the vaccine can be distributed to hospitals and health centers.

– This is something I work with daily — not with vaccine, but with dairy products. There are several similarities no matter what is in the trucks. For those of us who work with transport at Skånemejerier we always have the cold chain in mind. I think I can contribute to this collaboration with that knowledge, William Smygegård says.

Read more HERE