Dairy Advance Business Consulting 

Dairy Advance Business Consulting was established by Michael Culhane in 2005. For over a decade Dairy Advance has provided specialist management consulting and research services for companies and organizations involved in the value chain for milk and dairy products.

DABC assists an extensive range of clients with the their business development, technology and market information needs.

  • Dairy Processors, Dairy Cooperatives and Milk Producers
  • Trade, Research and Financial Sector Organizations
  • Suppliers to the Dairy Industry 
  • Food and Beverage Manufacturers using milk products and dairy ingredients in beverages, consumer foods, nutritional products and infant formula

 

 
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In depth assistance for business planning and technical information requirements in the dairy sector  

Technical, business and market information to help dairy companies and dairy sector partners plan for business development and prepare for key decision making

The dairy industry is complex and many factors – commercial, technical, regulatory, market – interact to determine business outcomes for companies and their projects whether as dairy manufacturers or allied industry stakeholders and customers. In competitive global markets making the right business and investment decisions requires a thorough understanding of all the issues supported by accurate and complete information.  

DABC develops custom management advice for clients that combines both business and technical expertise in a unique multidisciplinary service. We provide information and clear strategic counsel based on evaluation of the multiple elements that underpin the success of investments and business initiatives. Recommendations result from comprehensive assessment of the issues based on multidisciplinary know how and expertise including: 

 
 

Business and markets

  • Dairy Markets & Customers  Detailed insights and information from many years of selling and direct experience with global markets and customers for food and nutritional ingredients
  • Product and Market Innovation  Extensive involvement in market and technical development for advanced protein ingredients and derivatives  –  e.g. micellar caseins, native whey, lactoferrin, milk protein fractionation etc. 
  • Business Development  Broad experience in business planning, investment analysis and technical development for new capital projects and business expansions with commodity and specialty ingredients
  • Dairy Industry Structure & Drivers  Detailed knowledge of domestic US and international dairy industry structure, competitors and end user customers. Global perspectives on regional milk supply trends, costs of production, milk pricing systems and dairy product output
  • Dairy Policy  Familiarity with dairy policy developments and their  practical impact on industry economic drivers, competitiveness and trade activity

dairy technology, processing operations and Regulatory  

  • Dairy Manufacturing and Process Technology Experience with complex projects and manufacturing operations, appraisal of dairy technology and equipment options for the manufacture of milk powders, dairy proteins and ingredient products.
  • Ingredient and Protein Technology  In depth know how concerning technical criteria for ingredient use and applications – nutritional features and value, ingredient functional performance, product quality, product safety.
  • Project Planning and Management  Extensive involvement in the preparation of plans for new process operations and the evaluation of critical components for successful business plan implementation including plant technical performance criteria, equipment procurement and plant budgeting
  • Regulatory – extensive food regulation experience covering product standards, food safety and processing & equipment standards for milk and finished dairy products  

 

 
 

We take this expertise and offer thoughtful advice and practical information for business planning gained from many years of international experience with dairy operations, insight about customer expectations, market trends and the global competitive environment. 

 
Michael Culhane  

Michael Culhane  

Michael Culhane

DAiry Advance Business Consulting & Associates

Based in Monroe, Wisconsin Michael Culhane established Dairy advance Business Consulting in 2005. He has worked in the dairy industry for over twenty five years including eighteen years in frontline management with dairy processing companies. He started his dairy career in Ireland at Glanbia (then Avonmore Foods) and transferred to its U.S. operations in 1990. Over the course of fifteen years at Glanbia he held senior management positions in the company’s ingredient division including general manager, executive vice president, president and director. 

He had a leadership role in the establishment of Glanbia’s operations in the United States and managed business through several stages of growth for both commodity and specialty dairy products including commercial development of the first microfiltered whey protein isolate (WPI) for US and global markets. Michael’s experience and expertise combines broad knowledge and understanding of dairy business, milk processing operations, dairy technology, market development, regulatory and policy matters in domestic and international markets for milk products. His career background includes:

  • Over twenty five years of progressive experience in management and consulting for milk and dairy ingredient operations including extensive involvement with business development, capital project planning, business acquisition and investment analysis for commodity and specialty dairy products and ingredients. 
  • Technical expertise with milk processing, plant operations, process equipment design & standards, dairy product safety & quality and food industry regulation.
  • Wide experience of dairy ingredient sales and marketing in international markets including many years of direct involvement with the management of customer relationships in North & South America, European Union and Asia. 
  • Expertise in nutritional and food manufacturing applications technology for dairy proteins and ingredients 
  • Extensive know-how concerning business, market, trade policy and technology drivers for sustainable dairy business development across a range of product sectors such as milk powders, butterfat, cheese, milk proteins, whey products, and specialty dairy proteins.
Michael Culhane received his B.Sc. in Agricultural and Food Chemistry and Ph.D. in Nutrition from University College Dublin.