Sipahh™ Highly Commended at 2007 Global Dairy Innovation Awards

April 19 , 2007

Clever & creative ideas specific to the global dairy industry were celebrated in late March with the staging of the first Dairy Innovation Awards. Categories for dairy drinks, desserts and cheese, health, packaging, school milk programs and dairy marketing initiatives attracted 90 entries from 16 countries for the inaugural 2007 Dairy Innovation Awards.

Unistraw International Limited received a Highly Commended judgment for Sipahh™ Milk Flavouring Straws in the School Milk Initiative category. This category gave judges an introduction to the efforts being directed around the world to win children over to dairy consumption and its associated health benefits at an early age.

The awards were coordinated by UK Dairy Innovation magazine and were sponsored by Campina. The awards ceremony took place in Amsterdam, as part of the First Global Dairy Congress.

The Sipahh School Milk Initiative included the following key elements:

• A mass direct mail campaign to all primary and secondary schools in Australia and New Zealand commencing in July 2006. The information outlined the benefits to children of white milk and the ease in which white milk consumption can be increased using Sipahh™ Milk Flavouring Straws.
• A free trial pack offer of 60 Sipahh™ Milk Flavouring Straws was redeeemed by over 2000 schools.
• Given the success of the campaign, the program is being offered to the remaining 4500 Australian school canteens, plus 1600 more schools in New Zealand.

The results:

• Over 25% of Australian schools are now serving Sipahh™ Milk Flavouring Straws & white milk to fill their menu with fun and green rated products.
• It is anticipated that over 50% of Australian and New Zealand schools will be stocking Sipahh™ Milk Flavouring Straws & white milk by April 2007.
  

The 2007 Dairy Innovation Awards panel of independent judges consisted of Dairy Science and Technology Consultant Dr Adnan Tamime, Waitrose Supermarkets Nutrition Manager Moira Howie, Werner Basler, Senior Manager Marketing Communications for Global Dairy Congress sponsor Elopak, Oxford Brookes University Senior Lecturer in Food Engineering Neil Heppall and dairy innovation magazine Editor Geoff Platt. Chairing the panel of judges was Zenith International Publishing Director and beverage innovation magazine Editor Claire Phoenix.