--- title: "Dairy Trends: From Zero-Sugar to 'Animal Free'" description: Our Founder & CEO Fred Schonenberg sat down with FoodNavigator USA to talk about how innovation expands dairy's reach and taps into unmet consumer needs. image: https://blog.venturefuel.net/hubfs/0001-28334513585.jpeg --- ![](https://blog.venturefuel.net/hubfs/0001-28334513585.jpeg) # Dairy Trends: From Zero-Sugar to 'Animal Free' Published by [Food Navigator USA](https://blog.venturefuel.net/in-the-press/author/food-navigator-usa) on Jun 10, 2022 11:09:42 AM ## "There's still tremendous volume and growth potential in the general dairy categories."  *- John Talbot, CEO of the California Milk Advisory Board*   Our Founder and CEO Fred Schonenberg sat down with FoodNavigator USA to talk about the role of innovation in expanding the reach of dairy and tapping into unmet consumer needs. Learn more and watch the on-demand webinar [here](https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Events/Dairy-trends-From-zero-sugar-to-animal-free).  He was joined by an all-star panel of industry experts including: - California Milk Advisory Board Chief Executive Officer John Talbot - Rabobank's Dairy Analyst Ben Laine  - The Urgent Company's Co-Founder & General Manager Paul Kollesoff and  - Danone's Chief Research & Innovation Officer Takoua Debeche. A big thanks to FoodNavigator's Deputy Editor and panel moderator Elizabeth Crawford for inviting us to join in on the conversation. The group talked about trends impacting the dairy segment, including cross-segment buying, sustainability and the chance for producers to educate consumers about the benefits of dairy with storytelling & innovation to push back against the threat of commoditization.   *To learn more about how to build a product Accelerator to diversify your existing Innovation practice, contact [info@venturefuel.net](mailto:info@venturefuel.net)* *[![Learn More About Venturefuel](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/9106794/b89ad9cd-343d-4140-8252-1553045f9a90.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/9106794/b89ad9cd-343d-4140-8252-1553045f9a90)* Tags: [Innovation](https://blog.venturefuel.net/in-the-press/tag/innovation), [Startups](https://blog.venturefuel.net/in-the-press/tag/startups), [R&D](https://blog.venturefuel.net/in-the-press/tag/rd), [Dairy](https://blog.venturefuel.net/in-the-press/tag/dairy) [Back to Blog](https://blog.venturefuel.net/in-the-press) ## Related Articles ## [Real California Milk Excelerator, Powered by VentureFuel, Returns for 5th Year with Renewed Commitment to Open Innovation Using Dairy from the Golden State](https://blog.venturefuel.net/in-the-press/real-california-milk-excelerator-powered-by-venturefuel-returns-for-5th-year-with-renewed-commitment-to-open-innovation-using-dairy-from-the-golden-state) Originally Posted In PR Newswire [Read More ](https://blog.venturefuel.net/in-the-press/real-california-milk-excelerator-powered-by-venturefuel-returns-for-5th-year-with-renewed-commitment-to-open-innovation-using-dairy-from-the-golden-state) ## [3 Open Minutes with John Talbot](https://blog.venturefuel.net/in-the-press/3-open-minutes-with-john-talbot) As CEO of the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), which is one of the largest dairy promotion... [Read More ](https://blog.venturefuel.net/in-the-press/3-open-minutes-with-john-talbot) ## [Smearcase’s Innovative Frozen Cottage Cheese Disrupts the Indulgence Aisle, Wins $100,000 Grand Prize at the 2025 Real California Milk Excelerator Final Pitch Event](https://blog.venturefuel.net/in-the-press/smearcases-innovative-frozen-cottage-cheese-disrupts-the-indulgence-aisle-wins-100000-grand-prize-at-the-2025-real-california-milk-excelerator-final-pitch-event) Tracy, Calif., Dec 12, 2025 – The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) and VentureFuel announced ... [Read More ](https://blog.venturefuel.net/in-the-press/smearcases-innovative-frozen-cottage-cheese-disrupts-the-indulgence-aisle-wins-100000-grand-prize-at-the-2025-real-california-milk-excelerator-final-pitch-event)