On November 28th, 2024 the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) hosted an exclusive burrata brunch in Mexico City, bringing together three media outlets, two renowned influencers, and five distinguished chefs. This event, organized in collaboration with the regional importer, aimed to strengthen connections with chefs from five prestigious restaurants. Attendees included media representatives from Reforma, Cocina Vital, and Gastrolab, as well as influencers such as “La señora del súper MX” and “¿Y qué hago de comer?”.
The main goal of the event was to inspire attendees with new culinary ideas using California burrata, showcased in the preparation of two exceptional dishes: a roasted peach salad with arugula, pesto, and sun-dried tomatoes, and a capricciosa pizza with burrata. This initiative highlighted the quality and versatility of this cheese, encouraging attendees to explore its integration into their menus and leverage its potential in haute cuisine.
We participated in the Food and Wine Festival at the Hipódromo de las Américas in Mexico City on Saturday, November 16, and Sunday, November 17, 2024 promoting Real California dairy products through tastings. This festival is recognized as one of the most important gastronomic events of the year, offering a diverse program of activities where over 1,100 attendees enjoyed food and beverage pairings, and learning about high-quality products.
Our booth was a highlight of the event, thanks to the tastings conducted by Chef Poncho Hernández, who captivated attendees with his innovative recipes such as mozzarella compote and appetizers. We also distributed promotional items, such as fans and tote bags customized with the Real California Milk seal, effectively capturing the public’s attention and strengthening brand recognition.
We had a presence in three key locations: the general tasting area, two VIP sections, and a Photo Opportunity spot, perfect for branded photo moments. Interest in our products was significant, particularly in the ice cream, as many attendees inquired about where to purchase it. This success underscores the value and quality of Real California products in the market.
On October 19th, 2024, CMAB participated at TEDx San Ángel “Evolution”, both as a sponsorship and with Michael Boccadoro as speaker, as a sustentability expert.
TEDx San Ángel is a independent program of local events, part of TED Talks, a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading ideas.
The event was in Teatro Centenario Coyoacán, around 400 people with very specific profiles, high educational and socioeconomic level, including professionals, entrepreneurs, students, artists attended.
As sponsors we gave samplings of 10 varieties of cheese and 2 of ice cream, we gave a special gift to all the speakers and different gifts to the attendees.
Michael Boccadoro, our speaker, has participated in California’s environmental policy arena for more than 35 years. As president of West Coast Advisors, he specializes in public affairs consulting and has distinctive expertise in environmental, climate, natural resources, and sustainability issues. During his talk “Evolution of Planet-Smart Dairy”, he exposed the efforts and programs that are carried out in California within the dairy industry on issues of sustainability. California is recognized as a world leader in planet-smart dairy farm practices, investing over $2 billion in more than 300 methane reduction projects on the state’s dairy farms.
On October 1, 2, and 3, 2024, Imalinx, together with the California Milk Advisory Board, participated for the third time in the Espacio Food & Service event in Santiago de Chile, Chile to continue developing relationships with key members of the dairy industry and generate new opportunities for different products such as cheese, butter, ice cream, among others.
The execution of the event included activities such as a presentation of the Chilean market by the United States Agro-Commercial Office in Chile, a visit to the most relevant supermarkets in the region and an area within Espacio Food & Service to do tastings of specialty cheese boards and pizza, appointments with more than 15 interested companies and the follow-up and presentation of promotional programs that the California Dairy Council can manage once the products are on the market.
“The participation of the California Milk Advisory Board in the show, together with the new trends that we see among consumers, will enhance the opportunity for new and specialty products to the Chilean market where we do not have such unique and differentiated varieties.” Dairy Importer in Chile.
On August 8 and 9, Imalinx, in conjunction with the California Dairy Council and 5 cheese producers, visited the city of Querétaro to provide training to executives and store managers on products that bear the Real California Milk seal.
Mention client, association CMAB
The event was coordinated 3 months in advance to be able to adjust the agendas of Point Reyes, Di Stefano, Cheese Bits, Joseph Farms, and Vintage, prepare the presentations, send samples, and arrange the training for 40 people from HEB that included executives, regional managers from Bajío, store managers, and deli managers.
In addition to the presentations, there were Q&A sessions, as well as a guided tasting by Joe Baird, The Cheese Monger at CMAB, to discuss the flavor profiles of some cheeses, ways to use them, and how to pair them.
Within the trip and the activity, tastings were also coordinated in 3 HEB stores to promote the products with the end consumer.
“Thank you for the support. With these activities we can boost sales and commitment of the stores and collaborators to increase product sales!” HEB Regional Buyer
On Tuesday, July 23rd, the Delizie della Burrata event took place in Cuernavaca, Morelos. An event designed to bring the best quality of fresh cheeses to the door of the foodservice sector in the eternal spring city. Di Stefano cheeses are made with 100% cow’s milk from California in the artisan style and with the original Italian recipe.
Together with our distributor Gennaro Riccio we presented the Di Stefano brand, its history and trajectory. Gennaro gave us a training on the uses to learn more about each product, its flavors, versatility and quality; delighting us from classic recipes to very creative innovations.
We had 15 attendees from 9 different companies, all of them were able to learn, taste and ask questions. They took away samples and a gift kit, as well as many ideas to apply everything they learned!
Expo ANTAD, that took place from March 12 to 14, is a trade show focused on the retail sector with more than 1,100 exhibiting companies and an estimated 10,000 professional visitors.
This year IMALINX coordinated a total of 17 booths for 6 of our clients, organizing logistics, business meetings and follow-ups with importers, distributors and supermarkets of various categories of food and beverages; from fresh produce such as Idaho Potatoes, grains and nuts such as Popcorn and California Raisins, dairy products with California Milk and various companies from the South and West of the United States.
The show was a success and has allowed us to see products in the supermarket in a short period of time after the show.
We start the year with new desserts!
At the beginning of 2024 we launched 14 different First Street ice cream flavors at Chedraui nationwide in Mexico. From the classic vanilla and chocolate flavors, to new combinations such as our rainbow sorbet with orange, pineapple and raspberry ice cream.
We also launched the creamy French Petit Pot dessert at Costco Mexico, also nationwide. This dessert is a must, with simple ingredients, organic and super creamy, made with 72% cocoa. Its size is ideal to enjoy any day of the week, alone or with whipped cream, nuts and raspberries.
The launch of Petit Pot was accompanied by 4 demo days, as well as a publication on Real California Milk Mexico’s social networks announcing the new product, achieving a 53% increase in sales.
Espacio Food and Service is the most important food show in Chile. It was held from September 27th to 29th in Santiago de Chile, Chile where the key contacts of the industry get together to share trends of products, services, and technologies.
California Milk took part for the first time in the show to explore the Chilean market and its potential on the dairy industry. This time CMAB participated in the US Pavilion, giving us an excellent booth location.
During our time in Chile, we visited the main supermarkets in the country to know the varieties available, store formats, and start evaluating business development opportunities.
In the show California Milk found interest of over 100 importers, distributors, and restaurants specifically for the cheese category like cream cheese, mozzarella, cheddar, and artisan cheeses. Also, we started to develop relationships with at least 5 key contacts of the retail, foodservice and brand reps.
“We value your visit to know and evaluate Chile. We hope to move forward and be able to have many Real California Milk products in Chile and South America. The response of the contacts after the show has been very positive and encouraging. We’ve already had 5 meetings.” -Renato Poblete, Deli Casei
This year, we were able to introduce the different presentations of California Select Farms brand cheeses to the City Club chain. To boost sales, sampling sessions were held nationwide on 4 weekends during June and July.
The objective of the activity was for people to know more about the cheeses offered by Real California Milk, so that they can learn about the value and differentiation of dairy products with the seal and thus make better purchasing decisions.
For the tastings, the 6 different varieties were used, during the 10 days of demos a total of 3,467 cheeses were sold obtaining an ROI of 82%.