Land O’Lakes reveals brands chosen for its dairy accelerator

Manufacturers of milk-based snacks and fruit smoothie pouches are among the brands selected to take part in Land O’Lakes’ 2018 dairy accelerator.

The initiative aims to support the industry by providing tailored coursework and mentorship to dairy entrepreneurs.

To qualify for consideration, each company was required to use dairy as a primary ingredient in its products.

Raquel Melo, vice president of innovation and new business development at Land O’Lakes, said: “Our 2018 participating companies span dairy categories, demonstrating the vitality and versatility of dairy. We’re excited to support the dairy industry by nurturing these innovators and entrepreneurs in the accelerator programme.”

The brands in full

• Blue Marble Ice Cream – creates organic ice cream and sorbets, with flavours including Mexican chocolate, pumpkin and green tea.
• Darling Pickle Dips – offers refrigerated dips made from a cream cheese and white bean base, combined with pickled vegetables, herbs and spices.
• Norr Skyr – makes Icelandic-style yogurt which incorporates Scandinavian flavours such as buckthorn, gooseberry, elderflower and raspberry rosewater.
• Numa Foods – produces milk-based chewy snacks infused with nuts and dried fruits and inspired by Taiwanese nougat.
• SmashPack – offers high-protein fruit smoothies in flavours such as tropical fruit, orange peach and mixed berry.
• Tulip Tree Creamery – manufactures speciality cheeses and butter, using traditional European recipes combined with the founders’ own twist.

Throughout the three-month course, which is based in Minnesota, participants will meet with both Land O’Lakes and external business mentors and will attend seminars focused on topics including finance, brand building, sales, and leadership development.

Earlier this year Land O’Lakes named former PepsiCo executive Beth Ford as its CEO, replacing Chris Policinski who has retired from the position after 13 years.