Last month, Prairie Farms Dairy announced it was launching four new “conventional” lactose-free dairy products, in what it called an underserved category. The company stated its new lactose free lineup would include whole and 2% milk in gallons, and cottage cheese and sour cream in 16-oz. tubs, “normalizing the lactose-free category,” Matt McClelland, CEO and executive vice president of Prairie Farms Dairy said at the time.
“By this, I mean we’re addressing the affordability and accessibility of fresh lactose-free milk by offering a family-size gallon,” he said. “A far as I know, this is a first-of-its-kind solution.”
Since then, plans for the lactose-free production have come to light, with local news reports saying that the company will produce the new lactose-free products at its Sioux Falls, S.D., processing plant, which it acquired four years ago and is served by 15 regional dairy farms.
The company shared its excitement with the local media over the new production plans, which they believe will be good for the dairy farmers in the area because it will provide another outlet for their milk products. The company said it expects production to begin in Sioux Falls in late May, with products hitting store shelves during June.
Prairie Farms also said it expects to offer its lactose-free gallons of milk at a price similar to what competitors charge for a half-gallon carton. In addition, the production process wouldn’t materially change, in that the products are still processed the same was as the lactose products, with the only difference being that a special enzyme is added to break down the lactose for the lactose-free product.
