The dairy sector wants to sell in international markets

One of the industries that covid-19 did not stop was dairy. Ecuador produces around five million liters of milk a day and 660 million liters have been obtained so far this year.

The dairy sector wants to sell in international markets

However, the consumption of dairy products did decrease and Rodrigo Gallegos, director of the Center for the Dairy Industry , believes that in the next few days there will be a surplus of milk . “The industries cannot buy more and as a consequence, the farmers will not be able to place their milk ; there will be a growth in informality ”, he warns.

Changes in daily routine influence consumption habits . For example, as a result of the health emergency, parents stopped buying products for children’s lunchboxes and preferred long-life, high-volume formats such as extra-large yogurt , milk in carton , powdered milk , and fresh or mozzarella cheeses .

Gallegos believes that to encourage the consumption will have to generate more attractive products. This was done by Mondel, a company that manufactures mature gourmet cheeses . Jaime Erazo, general manager of the brand, ensures that at the moment its sales are at 40%. Most of them are made in supermarkets and a small number in restaurants.

To increase the clientele, the representative of Mondel implemented several strategies : he opted for home deliveries and applied promotions. In addition, for hotels and restaurants it renewed the image of the brand to make it more attractive. Additionally, during confinement he created six new types of cheese.

In addition, Erazo resumed his plan to export . Like other producers, he believes that taking his products abroad will be a good option for the company to grow. Expect certifications to be marketed to the U.S. and Peru.

On the other hand, Erazo considers that a factor that has contributed to its sales is the low presence of imported cheeses on the hangers. People consumed national products. “Competition is healthy. We grew a lot during the opening of the importation of mature cheeses , because people can appreciate quality more, “says Erazo.

Precisely, for Juan Pablo Grijalva, general manager of the Association of Ranchers of the Sierra and the East , the answer to face the crisis is to consume the national product first . It ensures that about 1,500,000 people earn income from the production of milk and its derivatives.

In addition to this, Grijalva , also general manager of El Ordeño , supports the option that the sector exports more of its products. Ensures that the industry is ready to reach international markets.

For this, Grijalva believes the government should support the industry with lines of long – term credit and make a differentiation between the price of exports to the domestic price , as a mechanism to be competitive abroad. ( I )