Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) today announced seven new partnerships to “ignite fluid milk innovation.”

According to DMI, the objective of the partnerships is to meet the growing demands of both foreign and U.S. consumers. The seven partners, supported by DMI which represents America’s dairy farm families and importers, are “committing an unprecedented investment to unlock innovation and put milk back in the center of the rapidly growing health and wellness beverage market.”

The seven partners from across the supply chain include Dairy Farmers of America (DFA); Darigold/Northwest Dairy Association; The Kroger Company; Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, Inc.; Shamrock Farms; Southeast Milk, Inc and The Coca-Cola Company – all working aggressively to pursue growth opportunities for fluid milk through infrastructure, capital, human resource and marketing investments.

“These dairy partners are making an unprecedented investment over the next few years – more than half a billion dollars in capital and other resources,” said Tom Gallagher, CEO of DMI. “With our check-off resources and dedication to fluid milk innovation, we’re excited to see how unique partnerships will help us drive ingenuity and generate new offerings and sales in the fluid milk category.”

“As a farmer, I am proud to see to see farmer-led organizations and other leaders committed to revitalizing fluid milk,” said Paul Rovey, Arizona dairy farmer, chairman of DMI and chairman of United Dairymen of Arizona, a regional dairy cooperative.

Gallagher and Rovey participated in a telephone press conference this afternoon to talk about the new partnerships. DMI Announces New Partnerships