2019 December Board Book

11/8/2019

Berry on Dairy: Milk Accelerator Winners Announced

Bears Nutrition, a daily nutritional milk beverage for kids on the go.

Each bottle of Bears contains 170 calories, 10 grams of protein, nine essential vitamins and minerals, and a dose of omega-3 fatty acids, a formulation that delivers the most critical building blocks for growth and development. Sugar content (15 grams) is 30% lower than fruit juice and still sweet enough for kids to come back for more, according to the company, which was founded by a pediatric nutritionist, an Olympic Gold medalist and a former energy venture capitalist.

The shelf-stable product contains about 90% milk and uses lactase to make it lactose free. This also assists with keeping added sugars down. To boost the protein content, whey and casein are added. Accepting the grand prize in this photo is David Sheu (left), CEO and one of the founders, and board member Kevin Yeung (right), who is involved in food-related businesses in Asia. As part of the pitch, Yeung detailed the opportunity with exporting this product to Asian markets where kids’ nutritional products are a booming business.

The runner-up product was Perq Plus from Allpur Nutrition Inc. Those of you who have been in the dairy industry long enough will remember this product as S’milk, a slightly carbonated, lactose-free fruity milk beverage that was before its time. Developed by husband and wife team, George and Mary Ann Clark, a pharmaceutical chemist and registered nurse/child nutritionist, respectively, the product formulation has a number of patents. It’s been approved as an ala carte item in the school lunch program and a number of retailers and distributors are interested in carrying the refrigerated product that has a 72-day shelflife.

Good Citizens Collagen Lattes was the third place finalist. The company was founded by Kiowa Saunders and Ryan Fitzpatrick, entrepreneurs with a number of products in the market who are focused on social impact. Saunders explained how he specializes in identifying gaps in the market and then sets out to responsibly develop products to fill them. The ready-to-drink shelf-stable lattes contain 55% milk and are enhanced with collagen that is known to support joint strength, and healthy skin, hair and nails. He showed how the product can compete on price and size with enhanced coffee beverages currently in the market. In addition to delivering the nutrition of milk and extra protein from collagen, the beverage provides energy from natural caffeine. Each can contains the equivalent of 1.5 cups of brewed coffee. The Peoples’ Choice Award went to Stuyt Dairy Creamery, fifth-generation family dairy farmers now in California by way of the Netherlands. They created Dessertables, a custard-like product packaged in a squeezable pouch. It’s based on a traditional Dutch recipe and is created in small batches at the company’s farmstead operation.

The other five finalists were:

2/4