Overview
The Yogurt & Cultured Innovation Conference is a dynamic, information-rich meeting focused exclusively on the information that yogurt and cultured dairy product professionals need. Learn about the most recent developments in the category and be inspired by new ideas as you network with industry peers and respected experts.
Find out what’s new in ingredients, cultures, processing technology and packaging. Plus, experience new ingredients and products presented during the Innovative Product Contest.
Who Should Attend?
All professions in the yogurt and cultured dairy products field – including executives, marketers, plant operations, research and development and quality assurance staff – will gain new insights, ideas and solutions by attending the conference. Suppliers to the industry are also encouraged to attend.
Agenda
*All Times Eastern Print Agenda
| April 9, 2024 | Event | Speaker | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00am - 8:30am |
Networking Breakfast – Sponsored by: Tetra Pak
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| 8:30am - 8:45am |
Welcome Remarks
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| 8:45am - 9:30am |
General Session
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| 9:30am - 10:15am |
General Session
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| 10:15am - 10:45am |
Networking Break – Sponsored by: Denali Ingredients
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| 10:45am - 11:30am |
Ice Cream Tech: Concurrent Session
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| 11:30am - 12:15pm |
Yogurt & Cultured: Concurrent Session
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| 12:15pm - 1:30pm |
Networking Lunch
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| 1:30pm - 2:15pm |
Ice Cream Tech: Concurrent Session
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| 1:30pm - 2:15pm |
Yogurt & Cultured: Concurrent Session
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| 2:15pm - 3:30pm |
Innovative Ice Cream Flavor Contest, Part I: Most Innovative Flavor and Most Innovative Novelty
Taste the latest and most interesting flavors and novelties and vote for your favorites. In Part I, attendees will judge for the Most Innovative Ice Cream Flavor and the Most Innovative Ice Cream Novelty Product currently in the market. |
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| 3:30pm - 4:15pm |
Ice Cream Tech: Concurrent Session
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| 3:30pm - 4:15pm |
Yogurt & Cultured: Concurrent Session
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| 4:15pm - 5:00pm |
Innovative Ice Cream Flavor Contest, Part II: Most Innovative Prototype Flavor
Part II of the Innovative Ice Cream Flavor Competition is devoted to the Prototype Ice Cream Flavor category. Entries are new products that are not yet in the market. Taste and judge the samples for yourself and help choose the winner. |
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| 5:30pm - 7:00pm |
Networking Reception – Sponsored by: Clasen Quality Chocolate
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| April 10, 2024 | Event | Speaker | Location |
| 8:00am - 8:30am |
Networking Breakfast
|
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| 8:30am - 9:15am |
General Session
|
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| 9:15am - 10:00am |
General Session
|
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| 10:00am - 10:30am |
Innovative Cultured Dairy Product Contest
Taste the latest new products — including cultured milk, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, and dips — and vote for your favorites. |
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| 10:30am - 11:00am |
Networking Break – Sponsored by: dsm-firmenich
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| 11:00am - 11:45am |
Ice Cream Tech: Concurrent Session
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| 11:00am - 11:45am |
Yogurt & Cultured: Concurrent Session
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| 11:45am - 12:30pm |
Ice Cream Tech: Concurrent Session
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| 11:45am - 12:30pm |
Yogurt & Cultured: Concurrent Session
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| 12:30pm - 1:30pm |
Lunch: Presentation of Innovative Ice Cream & Cultured Products Awards
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| 1:30pm - 2:15pm |
Ice Cream Tech: Concurrent Session
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| 1:30pm - 2:15pm |
Yogurt & Cultured: Concurrent Session
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| 2:15pm - 3:00pm |
General Session
|
Networking Breakfast – Sponsored by: Tetra Pak
Networking Break – Sponsored by: Denali Ingredients
Innovative Ice Cream Flavor Contest, Part I: Most Innovative Flavor and Most Innovative Novelty
Taste the latest and most interesting flavors and novelties and vote for your favorites. In Part I, attendees will judge for the Most Innovative Ice Cream Flavor and the Most Innovative Ice Cream Novelty Product currently in the market.
Innovative Ice Cream Flavor Contest, Part II: Most Innovative Prototype Flavor
Part II of the Innovative Ice Cream Flavor Competition is devoted to the Prototype Ice Cream Flavor category. Entries are new products that are not yet in the market. Taste and judge the samples for yourself and help choose the winner.
Networking Reception – Sponsored by: Clasen Quality Chocolate
Innovative Cultured Dairy Product Contest
Taste the latest new products — including cultured milk, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, and dips — and vote for your favorites.
Networking Break – Sponsored by: dsm-firmenich
Innovative Product Contest
This competition offers the opportunity for dairy processors, as well as flavoring suppliers, to showcase their latest cultured dairy products (cultured milk, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, dip) and flavors.
All conference attendees are invited to submit one entry to compete in each of the two categories:
- Most Innovative Cultured Dairy Product
- Most Innovative Cultured Dairy Prototype Flavor
An award will be given for first place winners in each category, judged by conference attendees, and winners will be featured in an upcoming edition of Dairy Foods magazine.
To submit an entry, complete the contest entry form no later than March 26, 2024. Please contact vpender@idfa.org with any questions.
Sponsored by:
Guidelines for Contest Submissions
- A company representative must register for the Yogurt & Cultured Innovation Conference to participate.
- Limit of one (1) entry per company, per category.
- Please plan for your product submission to arrive between April 4 and April 8. If your product is received after April 8, we cannot guarantee that your entry will be included in the contest.
- Please send enough product so that 200 individuals may sample the submission. For example, if your product is a 6-10 oz. container, send 40 containers; if it is a 16-32 oz. container, send 20 containers.
- If the cultured dairy product is submitted in the original retail containers, the product will be placed in individual portion cups for the contest.
- Be sure to pack the shipment well, wrapping each container in bubble wrap or paper to help protect it from damage during the extreme cold temperature of the dry ice.
- The box MUST be clearly marked "Must Be Refrigerated" and "IDFA Product Contest".
- A shipping label will be provided – Please complete and attach the label to your shipped box(es).
- Once the product is shipped, email vpender@idfa.org with the information below. If you do not email the required information, we cannot guarantee that your entry will be included in the contest.
- Tracking number
- Arrival date
- Submission name and product type
- Company contact attending the conference
Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort
The Ice Cream Technology Conference and the Yogurt & Cultured Innovation Conference will be co-located at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort in Clearwater, Florida. You may make your hotel reservations online or directly with the hotel by calling 727-461-3222. When calling, please refer to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) to receive the special room rate of $349 per night plus applicable taxes. The deadline to secure a room is March 25, 2024. We have reserved a large block of rooms, but once all the rooms have been booked, we cannot guarantee that additional space will be available.
Address: 400 Mandalay Avenue Clearwater, FL 33767
Registration fees are based on your company's IDFA membership status. For more information about membership, please email membership.idfa.org.
Q: Registration Substitutions
Registration is non-transferable from one company to another; however, substitutions within companies are welcome at any time. Please email registrar@idfa.org if you would like to make a registration substitution.
Q: Registration Cancellation Policy
Registration cancellations received in writing will be accepted prior to March 12, 2024 for a full refund, minus a $75 processing fee. Cancellations received after March 12, 2024, will be eligible for a 50 percent refund, less the processing fee. Your registration fee is non-refundable after March 26, 2024. Substitutions may be made without penalty. All cancellations and substitutions must be received in writing at registrar@idfa.org.
Q: News Media
Credentialed members of the news media are welcome to register at a special rate by contacting mherrick@idfa.org. News media must present credentials to qualify.
Questions: If you have questions or need assistance with the registration process, please contact IDFA at (202) 737-4332 or registrar@idfa.org.
The Yogurt & Cultured Innovation Conference delivers high value and an opportunity to engage with more top-level decision makers than ever before — including executives, plant managers, regulatory compliance personnel, product development specialists, research and development professionals, quality assurance staff, plant engineers, and operations personnel.
Sponsorship is one of the best ways to brand your organization as a thought-leader and to highlight your commitment to advancing the dairy industry. IDFA offers a variety of sponsorship opportunities.
Please contact mlembke@idfa.org for more information.
