It’s another shake up in the dairy business. Dignitary Foods—the biggest milk processor, is petitioning for financial protection. Brian Rice of Vault Ag says signs were appearing for a considerable length of time that the organization was in a difficult situation.
“I think this was the most expected outcome,” said Rice. “In talking to bankers that were in the situation – who were helping investment bankers that were talking to potential buyers from all over the place – it was a really difficult company for somebody to buy as it was. I think the whole marketplace knew that Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) was a backstop.”
Dignitary Foods is accusing a drop in liquid milk request as the explanation the business needed to seek financial protection. That is the they same explanation it gave in 2018 when it advised 100 makers the organization would never again have the option to take their milk
Since 1975, Dean Food says liquid milk utilization has dropped 11 gallons for each individual.
The organization refering to the developing notoriety of pop, juices and elective refreshments like almond squeeze as all agony focuses that are eating into liquid milk request.
Phil Plourd, leader of Blimling and Associations, told participants at the 2019 Farm Journal’s MILK Business Conference this week the real offender of quieted milk request in general is oat.
“Milk’s best friend got in trouble,” said Plourd. “We eat much less cereal today, and if you were to plot a graph of cereal sales and milk sales, it’s the same picture. Cereal sales are down 20% since 2009 by volume, while milk sales are down 18%. It’s not much more complicated than that in terms of a big bulk of the loss of sales.”
Rice says declining liquid milk deals are to be faulted, yet in addition a business structure that wasn’t changing with the occasions.
“Class I milk is the core of Dean Foods’ business, and they’re in a declining category,” they said. “It’s hard to have a business when you’re in a declining category. So, you can’t call it poor management, but they were in a bad category, and I think there are other players inside that category – like Fairlife – would be somebody that really sticks out is that really hit a sweet spot of what the consumers looking for right now, and Dean Foods struggled to find that same type of savior.”
Senior member Foods says it might offer itself to the Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), the biggest promoting helpful in the nation. DFA revealing to Farm Journal it’s taking a gander at buying resources. Not simply the organization.
“Dean Foods is our largest customer and our primary focus is on ensuring secure markets for our members milk,” said David Darr, DFA Senior VP, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Office. “DFA is in a fortunate financial position to be able to withstand a situation like this, and as it’s been reported, we’ve had early conversations with Dean Foods about the possibility and potential sale of assets. Throughout the situation our primary focuses on our mission of delivering value to members and dedication to preserving family farms now and into the future.”
One dairy maker who supplies to Dean Foods disclosed to us they hasn’t heard anything from Dean Foods about the liquidation recording. They are had no correspondences with the organization. They discovered from news features that hit Tuesday.
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Biz Power News journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
