Corporate Profiles - 2024 - 60

COMPANY overview
Dairy Farmers of America
Moving ahead to fully integrate the
cooperative's businesses
A
s a cooperative that is owned and governed
by dairy farmers, Dairy Farmers of America's
purpose has been consistent since its inception:
creating value and benefit for its farm families.
DFA, Kansas City, Kan., experienced a record
level of financial and operational performance in
2023.
With its " one DFA strategy, " the cooperative is
prioritizing logistics and transportation to optimize
the movement of nearly 3,500 loads of milk per
day and the 120 million miles traversed each year
across its supply chain for milk collected daily. The
system also includes a refrigerated distribution
Regional Conservation Partnership Program, will
fund a pilot project to reduce methane emissions
on dairy farms with the use of an innovative feed
additive.
" Going forward, we are looking 5 to 10 years
ahead and beyond to ensure that dairy is a goto
for consumers around the world, " said Dennis
Rodenbaugh, president and chief executive officer,
DFA. " We are exploring innovative opportunities
for schools, foodservice and retail as well as the
global marketplace to ensure that milk and dairy
are meeting consumers' needs. "
New product highlights include DFA's TruMoo
Chief executive officer -
Dennis Rodenbaugh
network that covers 150 million miles per year,
delivering finished products from its manufacturing
facilities to over 17,000 retail locations throughout
the United States.
DFA also continues to focus on sustainability
initiatives. In January, the cooperative purchased
the first verified carbon credit in the livestock inset
marketplace, which will allow farmers to better
quantify their future environmental progress.
Additionally, the US Department of Agriculture
has awarded DFA two grants to implement sustainability
projects. The first, through the USDA's Partnerships
for Climate-Smart Commodities Program,
recruits farms to participate and is funding a pilot
project to scale methane emission reductions and
increase carbon sequestration on dairy farms in the
United States. The second grant, through the USDA's
60 \ October 2024
brand collaboration with Lucasfilm to release Star
Wars TruMoo Blue Milk, inspired by " Star Wars:
Galaxy's Edge " to local dairy aisles. The Garelick
Farms brand, available in the New England area,
also launched a new, fresh lactose-free milk, which
is easier to digest and still delivers all the vitamins
and nutrients of regular milk, due to the high temperature
short time (HTST) processing. The process
differentiates it from other national lactose-free
milks, which use ultra high temperature (UHT) processing.
Additionally, the Alta Dena brand in Southern
California is launching half gallons of lactosefree
milk, providing a broader range of consumer
options after introducing gallons a few years ago.
DFA also has been innovating within the sour
cream category, developing a restaurant-style product
that is thinner than traditional store-bought sour
cream and may be drizzled over a dish.
DFA recently expanded the roles of some key
leaders on its executive team.
Brett Johnson has been named chief operations
officer, focusing on driving efficiencies. Kristen Coady,
who previously oversaw marketing, communications
and corporate Innovation, is now chief
innovation and brand officer.
Additionally, Greg Kurr, formerly group vice
president of DFA's Central Group Dairy Brands, now
serves as president of the Dairy Brands division and
will lead the team and facilities responsible for fluid
milk, cultured and ice cream business. To help align
the cheese business across all ingredient and retail
categories, Ken Orf has taken on the role of president,
Cheese, Taste and Flavors. CP
ONE DFA STRATEGY
Movement of NEARLY 3,500
LOADS OF MILK PER DAY
120 MILLION MILES PER
YEAR milk collected daily
6,000 FARMS
delivered to OVER 400
MANUFACTURING PLANTS
The strategy also includes a
REFRIGERATED DISTRIBUTION
NETWORK that covers 150
MILLION MILES PER YEAR,
delivering finished products to OVER
17,000 RETAIL LOCATIONS
throughout the United States.
NEW PRODUCT
HIGHLIGHTS:
TRUMOO brand collaborated
with LUCASFILM to release
Star Wars TruMoo
Blue Milk.
GARELICK FARMS
brand launched a new,
fresh lactose-free milk.
ALTA DENA is
launching half gallons
of lactose-free milk.
DAIRY FARMERS OF AMERICA
Milling & Baking News * Food Business News * Baking & Snack * Meat+Poultry * Dairy Processing * Pet Food Processing
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Corporate Profiles - 2024

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