NPD Foodworld reports that milk was among the top 10 fastest growing menu items in 2006. Increased availability of bottled single-serve flavored milks and the marketing efforts of several quick service restaurants led to 4 percent growth in foodservice milk sales last year.

According to data from NPD Foodworld other dairy-friendly foods in the top 10 list of fastest growing menu items for 2006 include:

* Cheeseburger sales were up 3 percent compared to 2005.
* The sale of malts, milkshakes and floats (all of which use milk) were up 10 percent compared to 2005.
* Smoothies, most of which are dairy-based fruit smoothies, sales were up 23 percent.
* Specialty coffee drinks — lattés, cappuccinos, mochas, slushy frappuccino type beverages — were up 12 percent versus 2005. The lion’s share of these premium coffee drinks use class-1 fluid milk.