Anxiety versus hope
Image: Suzanne Christiansen
The export market is an interesting one, according to the live webinar held by Bord Bia last week about the future of dairy in the UK. A survey by Kubi Kalloo about what the British consumer was looking at, found that they are anxious about mostly everything lately. I have to say this is unsurprising, and I get the distinct impression that the UK consumer shares these anxieties with many other people on the planet. I visited Germany recently and found it just glum. So, one country is not alone in being anxious.
Let’s face it – the internet is great and I enjoy finding out who that actor was when I am watching a movie or television show by using the web, but it also can be source of stress, with social media. The way the world works, it is no wonder people are more concerned about what to feed themselves, and what to feed their families. It is about what one can control (food supply, hopefully) versus what one can’t (global warfare, regional conflicts, inflation). It is staring at the bark of the nearest tree and finding the beauty there, because the overall forest is quite dark and frightening.
Dairy fits into that as a solution quite well, actually. As we saw during the pandemic, dairy products provide a level of comfort that people remember from their childhoods. There is something magical in a foam-topped coffee and a pat of butter on a piece of toast. It can also be quite progressive, the surveyors found, with ideas from the vegan aisles finding their ways into the dairy segment, such as canned bubble tea and new formats for traditional flavours. A comforting area that also offers dynamic change, but in a good way. That’s where the opportunity is in dairy, and Bord Bia recognises that Irish dairy has such a good story to tell with all its grass-fed, delicious products. It recognises the anxiety and offers us all hope.
In other news, our International Cheese and Dairy Expo is also something to look forward to in 2024. Don’t miss out, as there will be cheese, and equipment, and plenty of people in this industry to talk to over the two days of the expo in Stafford.
Please contact Sam Bull about opportunities at the show: [email protected].
- Suzanne Christiansen, editor, Dairy Industries International.
Keep in touch via email: [email protected]
Twitter: @dairyindustries or LinkedIn: Dairy Industries International magazine
