Interviews: Consumer

250.000 gallons of milk in a day

Interview with Greg Soehnlon, VP Business Development

Superior Dairy started the business as a dairy in 1922. Since the beginning it has been owned by Soehnlon Family. The 3rd and the 4th family generation is currently running the business. President and COO of Superior Dairy is Daniel Soehnlon; CFO is Amil Soehnlon and VP Business Development is Greg Soehnlon. Based in Canton, Ohio, USA, Superior Dairy is a medium sized dairy plant within the region. Currently the company sells on average 250.000 gallons of milk a day. Milk distribution is over a six state region. Focus on the new gallon Dairy container that can be shipped palletized and the “Micro Dairy” concept.

Which is the Company’s core business, and product range for the dairy market?
Soehnlon: Since the beginning, in 1922, we started as a dairy. Our core business is now milk and ice cream. The range of products include 1/2 gallon and gallon milk, orange juice and ice cream, ice cream cakes. We also produce 5 gallons soft service ice cream mix.

Which are the company’s development strategies?
Soehnlon: Market and sell existing Dairy’s a new gallon Dairy Container that can be shipped palletized to any store or distribution point, is what we are promoting and there is indeed a substantial money saving. We are also marketing a complete dairy concept wich we call “Micro Dairy”. This system utilizes state of the art Uniloy Milacron R-2000 machines and molds and a Serac filler and pallettizer. We are able to put this in a plant and save about 50% floor space over a conventional Blow and Fill set up.

Which are their most appreciate features?
Soehnlon: Superior Dairy’s newest and most successful product is the caseless gallon container design. This is a market driven design that offers any manufacturer the ability to ship filled containers pallettized. Palletizing eliminates the usual plastic dairy case and thus offers any Dairy substantial savings. The container design itself offers the consumer easier pourability. Because of the bottle being filled on the Serac filler we are able to extend the expiration date on each container of milk we sell which reduces transportation cost and spoilage which saves the dairy money.
The most appreciated features are lower cost per Gallon of milk and longer shelf life, less milk to dispose off because the date code hasn't expired.

What does the market requires today?
Soehnlon: Low cost, superior taste, longer shelf life. By marketing the Micro Dairy concept, we feel we are offering something that no one else has and thus puts us in a dominate position. The Micro Dairy achieves what we estimate is needed within the dairy industry.