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MMPA announces partnership to supply Amul products

The Michigan Milk Producers Association has announced it’s partnering with the world’s largest dairy cooperative to develop ethnic fluid milk products for U.S. consumers.

President and CEO Joe Diglio tells Brownfield the co-founder of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Limited based in India was a graduate of Michigan State University.

“His graduate status really was kind of the main connection between India and the state of Michigan and so we utilized that to sort of talk about what we might be able to do in terms of production to service the Indian population here in the domestic market,” he says.

Dr. Verghese Kurien came to MSU in the late 1940s to study dairy engineering.  The co-op he helped establish is now owned by 3.6 million dairy farmers in India. Its Amul brand is the country’s largest consumer products group valued at more than $10 billion in annual sales.

Diglio says the organizations have been creating business models since connecting during an international tour at MSU before the pandemic.

MMPA will be supplying Amul branded milk across the Midwest and East Coast.

“These are extreme butterfat percentages that are in higher demand,” he says.

Products will be available with 6%, 4.5%, 3.25%, and 2% fat levels under the brands Amul Gold, Amul Shakti, Amul Taaza, and Amul Slim n Trim milk.

This is the first time that Amul fresh milk will be available outside India.

Diglio says the partnership is expected to quickly expand into other product categories in the marketplace.

AUDIO: MMPA President and CEO Joe Diglio