To meet an increasing demand from Wisconsin dairy producers and processors seeking to enter the specialty cheese and dairy sector, the Dairy Business Innovation Center opened its virtual doors in 2004 and has been helping clients launch new products and enter new markets ever since.
The DBIC is part of a collaborative plan that aims to increase profits and sustain agriculture for years to come. It is financed by federal funds through the support of Senator Herb Kohl and Congressman Dave Obey, matched by in-kind services from state organizations, and is starting its fifth year of operation.
In addition to serving individual client needs, the DBIC provides a host of other services to clients and the industry as a whole, including:
· Consumer Focus Groups: More than 25 DBIC clients have benefitted from the expertise of consumer panels, learning first-hand the reactions of consumers and using the results to adjust product and packaging to improve the likelihood of a successful rollout.
· Training Events: The DBIC has helped dozens of clients start new businesses, develop over 50 new products and access new markets. Through a variety of workshops and training including merchandising seminars, field days and hands-on cheesemaking training, the DBIC has coordinated more than 110 projects to help the industry obtain market exposure and identify new customers.
· Relocation Initiatives: With the increased interest of companies outside Wisconsin exploring potential new cheese plants and partnerships with the state, the DBIC works with an inter-agency team to assist with relocation ventures.
By directly helping to retain and grow farm businesses and dairy plants, and by showcasing its clients to the world marketplace, the DBIC is reinforcing the state's strong market recognition, identity and creating economic power to the state and its rural communities.
