The volume decline is triple the 2.2% volume decline for the US milk category as reported by the USDA. In addition to the overall trend of declining fluid milk sales, the company said natural disasters such as the hurricanes that destroyed parts of Florida and Texas resulted in a loss of several million gallons of sales volume.
However, Dean Foods remains encouraged that it has won new business that will translate into roughly 40m additional gallons of milk on an annual basis.
“We expect to begin shipping this volume late this year and on into early 2018,” Dean Foods CEO Ralph Scozzafava said during the Q3/17 earnings call.
When asked by analysts about the progress of Dean Foods’ partnership with Walmart to manufacture its private label milk brand, Scozzafava said that the Indiana plant is going through “normal start-up glitches” and that it will not be able to meet its December 2017 launch date.
The company is now aiming for a potential March 2018 launch date.
Product innovation
Looking ahead, Scozzafava said the company will continue to focus on reducing its cost structure to drive efficiencies through its OPEX 2020 productivity program.
Dean Foods also has plans to build the brand equity of its brands, particularly DairyPure, through new product innovation and improved marketing.
“We'll build brand equity in DairyPure with a new digitally-led advertising campaign that we believe will break through and really connect with consumers, drive brand equity, and increase household penetration of the brand,” he said.
In addition, DairyPure will enter the emerging single-serve flavored-cottage cheese category to play in high protein and on-the-go convenience snacking trends being driven by millennial consumers.
The company’s new product line, DairyPure Mix-Ins, combines its cottage cheese with fruit and nuts, and contain between 15 grams and 17 grams of protein, the company said.
“DairyPure Mix-Ins scored very high in consumer testing and is receiving strong customer response through our initial selling process, which is currently under way,” Scozzafava said.
“I look forward to sharing more about Mix-Ins in 2018.”