David Portalatin, vice president of industry analysis - food sector for The NPD Group, recently completed the research company’s “32nd Eating Patterns in America” report, and he is now traveling the country to share the insights he gained. Next stop: Dairy Forum, where he’ll present a concurrent session on what’s shaping current food and beverage consumption behavior in the United States.

“There are four new realities in particular that are a focus of our view on the state of the consumer: The New Retail, The New Convenience, The New Restaurant and The New Health and Wellness,” he said in blog post last month. “These topics best represent the areas where there has been the most change or evolution.”

Portalatin will outline these new realities to help executives sharpen their vision and find growth opportunities in a challenging consumer landscape.

That’s just one of nine concurrent session topics dairy leaders will consider as they gather to shape the future at Dairy Forum 2018, Jan. 21-24 in Palm Desert, California.

Dairy Trends, Drivers and Outlook

A concurrent session following Portalatin’s will take a broader look at the dairy landscape and consider current dairy trends on a global scale. Tom Bailey, executive director of dairy research at Rabobank, and John Newton, director of market intelligence at the American Farm Bureau Federation, will discuss the recent imbalance in supply and demand, as well as what may lie ahead for dairy in the next decade. Dave Carlin, IDFA senior vice president of legislative affairs and economic policy, with moderate the session.

Higher Fat Milk and Dairy

Cary Frye, IDFA senior vice president of regulatory affairs, will moderate a panel on “Nutrition Policy and Moving Up to Higher Fat Milk and Dairy.” Three panelists will consider options for a path forward to change nutrition policy and the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The ultimate goal would be to expand the current recommendations for dairy to allow more than low-fat and nonfat milk and milk products.

The panelists will be:

  • Roger Clemens, adjunct professor, pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences, School of Pharmacy at the University of Southern California; co-founder and executive vice president, Polyscience Consulting;
  • Randy Green, principal, Watson Green LLC; and
  • Greg Miller, chief science officer and executive vice president, research, regulatory and scientific affairs, National Dairy Council/Dairy Management Inc.

A total of nine concurrent sessions will be peppered throughout Dairy Forum, allowing attendees to dive deeper into consumer trends, marketing, technology, food waste and food banks. The other sessions are listed below, and full descriptions are available here.

  • Examine Food Safety Issues and Trends Around the Globe
  • Reduce Food Waste and Filling Food Banks
  • Explore the Evolution of Digital Marketing
  • Go Back to the Future of Dairy: Part 1 and 2
  • Envision a New Future for Fluid Milk

Have You Registered Yet?

To register or make hotel reservations, visit the Dairy Forum microsite.

Members with questions may contact Melissa Lembke, IDFA manager of meetings and educational services, at mlembke@idfa.org.