Contact
Marti Pupillo, IDFA
mpupillo@idfa.org    
(202) 220-3535

 Danielle Belmont, Dairy Foods
belmontd@bnpmedia.com
(248) 786-1613

(January 14, 2015 – Washington, D.C.) For the first time in the 30-year history of Dairy Forum, the industry’s premier annual meeting, the International Dairy Foods Association and Dairy Foods magazine are collaborating to offer live online broadcasts of several key sessions. Dairy Forum will be held January 25-28 in Boca Raton, Fla., and the live-streaming sessions will be offered January 26 and 27.

“Dairy Forum has become the must-attend meeting for U.S. dairy leaders,” said Connie Tipton, IDFA president and CEO. “It offers an exceptional opportunity to build relationships, hear about the latest consumer trends from industry experts and discuss the current political landscape as it relates to the dairy industry.

“Although these webinars can’t capture the full in-person experience, we’re pleased to partner with Dairy Foods magazine to bring several of our key sessions and speakers to a broader dairy audience,” she said.

“Last year, the onsite attendance topped 1,000 and now we’re partnering with IDFA to offer those who are unable to attend in person the chance to attend selected sessions remotely through live webinars,” said Tom Imbordino, publisher of Dairy Foods magazine. “What’s more, if your busy schedule doesn’t allow you to watch live, you can still access the scheduled broadcast on demand at any time.”

Dairy Forum is an annual gathering of dairy processors, producers, suppliers, retailers, policy makers, academics and members of the agricultural media. There is still time to attend Dairy Forum in person. To review the full agenda and register to attend, visit the Dairy Forum microsite at www.idfa.org.

These sessions will be broadcast live and available on demand:

January 26
8:15-9:00 a.m. Eastern time
“2020 Vision,” President’s Address
They say hindsight is 20/20, but Connie Tipton, IDFA president and CEO, is turning that adage on its head. She plans to look forward to the next five years with a focused vision on important changes ahead for the dairy industry. In her address, Tipton will challenge industry leaders to be willing to shake things up. She will unveil plans to ramp up IDFA activities during the run up to 2020.

9:15-10:15 a.m. Eastern time
“Collaborating to Combat Childhood Obesity”
Obesity prevention remains a pressing public health priority in the United States and around the world, and it is influencing government policies. Public/private sector partnerships are making a difference as more and more food and beverage companies are voluntarily participating in programs designed to end childhood obesity. Learn what the dairy industry is doing to help fight childhood obesity. Top executives will discuss efforts to improve the health of future generations.

12:30-1:30 p.m. Eastern time
“Celebrating Excellence Awards”
These awards recognize leaders who have contributed to the advancement of dairy through service, innovation and dedication to the improvement of the industry. These leaders are truly making a difference for dairy. Tune in to meet the Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year, the National Cheese Institute Laureate and the Processor of the Year. 

January 27
10:45 a.m. - Noon Eastern time
“Telling the Milk Story: Safeguarding Consumer Confidence in Milk’s Goodness”
Milk continues to be buffeted by animal activist claims, fad diet mandates and competitive product campaigns. Industry research shows that negative media coverage and competitive advertising are eroding consumer confidence in milk, yet when positive news about milk increases, attitudes about milk improve significantly. Learn what the consumer research conducted by the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP) has uncovered about messages that are most likely to keep consumers drinking and feeling good about milk. See how the milk industry and its partners are telling insight-based, relevant, motivating and emotional stories to reinforce consumer confidence.

To learn more about these sessions and register for the broadcasts, visit Dairy Forum Broadcasting Live.

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The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C, represents the nation's dairy manufacturing and marketing industries and their suppliers, with a membership of 550 companies within a $125-billion a year industry. IDFA is composed of three constituent organizations: the Milk Industry Foundation (MIF), the National Cheese Institute (NCI) and the International Ice Cream Association (IICA). IDFA's nearly 200 dairy processing members run nearly 600 plant operations, and range from large multi-national organizations to single-plant companies. Together they represent more than 85 percent of the milk, cultured products, cheese, ice cream and frozen desserts produced and marketed in the United States. IDFA can be found online at www.idfa.org.

Dairy Foods delivers the information necessary for dairy business success. We analyze and report on technologies, trends, new products and issues. In-depth special features, lively columns and expert technical articles come together and provide innovative ideas for dairy processors. We also feature processor profiles and plant close-ups every month plus plant engineering/operations, packaging and export coverage. Dairy Foods can be found online at www.dairyfoods.com.

Parent company BNP Media is one of the country's leading business-to-business media companies serving industry professionals across 50+ industries through magazines, custom media, enewsletters, website conferences, events and market research. BNP Media is committed to helping professionals succeed in business by providing superior information. BNP Media can be found online at www.bnpmedia.com.