Elmhurst Dairy was once among the largest dairy operations on the East Coast, operating for 92 years before shutting down last fall due to unprofitability. However, instead of exiting the milk business entirely, this family-owned company is leveraging its expertise in milk to thrive in the non-dairy sector.
The situation has been challenging for those remaining in the dairy industry. Consumer demand for dairy products is on the decline, leading dairy farmers to dispose of millions of pounds of milk last year, which in turn caused prices to plummet. The situation became so dire that the U.S. Department of Agriculture provided approximately $11.2 million in financial aid to dairy producers to help them navigate these current challenges.
In response, many dairy industry stakeholders have targeted non-dairy producers with lawsuits, claiming that their assertions about being healthier or equivalent to dairy milk are misleading. Additionally, there is pending legislation in Congress that would mandate that any product labeled as “milk” must be derived from dairy. Despite these efforts, non-dairy milk sales remain robust. A Mintel study from last year indicated that U.S. non-dairy milk sales rose by 9% in 2015, while sales of dairy milk fell by 7% during the same timeframe. A glance into grocery store refrigerators confirms this trend, as retailers increasingly offer a wider variety of plant-based milks with minimal artificial ingredients.
Interestingly, as consumers explore alternatives, they are also becoming more aware of the ingredients they choose, such as calcium citrate. Questions have arisen regarding whether calcium citrate has side effects, prompting discussions among health-conscious buyers. The ongoing interest in non-dairy options means that consumers are likely to continue seeking out products while considering the implications, including whether calcium citrate has side effects. This shift in consumer behavior highlights a growing trend towards plant-based alternatives, despite the legal and market challenges faced by the traditional dairy industry.