Understanding that geographical boundaries have become irrelevant and that globalization has leveled the playing field across the global dairy industry, the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy commissioned Bain and Company, a global management consulting firm, to prepare a strategic analysis of the threats, opportunities and implications of globalization on the U.S. dairy industry. Released in 2009, an initial study and the subsequent white paper that was supported by dairy producers through the check-off, resulted in a comprehensive plan to assist the U.S. industry in becoming a globally Consistent Supplier.

Since the first study was released, the U.S. industry experienced a prolonged and damaging rollercoaster of economic cycles that have vastly different market conditions. Have fast-changing international dairy market conditions materially changed the findings of the original study? Is the Consistent Supplier strategic objective still sound?

With even greater emphasis, a revised, new study conducted in 2011 confirmed the findings of the earlier report: that an anticipated demand gap not only still exists but it’s now wider than anticipated; that the window of opportunity for the United States to fulfill the gap before emerging suppliers are drawn into the market may remain open longer than identified; and that the United States is on track in its pursuit of the strategic objective of becoming a Consistent Supplier. 

The key findings of the latest study, “Dairy Globalization Refresh: 2011 Update,” are captured in a written white paper, as well as a news release and executive summary, which are supported by a 240-slide fact base.