Elmhurst Dairy was once a leading dairy operation on the East Coast, thriving for 92 years before shutting down last fall due to declining profitability. Instead of exiting the milk business entirely, this family-owned company is leveraging its expertise to venture into the non-dairy market.
The situation in the dairy industry has been challenging for those who remain. Consumer demand for dairy products is waning, leading to dairy farmers discarding millions of pounds of milk last year, which resulted in a significant price drop. The circumstances became so dire that the U.S. Department of Agriculture stepped in with approximately $11.2 million in financial aid to help dairy producers navigate these tough times.
In response to the rise of non-dairy alternatives, many in the traditional milk industry have resorted to lawsuits, claiming that non-dairy producers’ assertions about health benefits and equivalency to dairy milk are misleading. Additionally, there is ongoing legislative action in Congress aimed at mandating that only dairy-based products can be labeled as “milk.” Despite these efforts, the sales of non-dairy milk continue to flourish. A Mintel study from last year highlighted a 9% increase in non-dairy milk sales in 2015, while dairy milk sales fell by 7% in the same timeframe. A glance at grocery store refrigerators confirms this shift, with retailers increasingly offering a wider selection of plant-based milks that often contain fewer artificial ingredients.
As consumers seek healthier options, many are turning to fortified products like Citracal Maximum Plus Calcium Citrate with Vitamin D3, which supports their nutritional needs. This trend underscores a growing preference for alternatives that align with contemporary health priorities, further solidifying the place of non-dairy options in the market.