Why Smart Dairy Buyers Are Reframing Their Strategy in 2025
At Nui, we operate digital platforms where global buyers and sellers of dairy ingredients can trade directly in live auction environments that can be initiated by a seller or a buyer, supported by real-time bids and offers, with transparency of price achievement.
In this article, Nui Markets' Founder and CEO Kevin O'Sullivan shares what he's seeing across our European and North American Dairy Marketplace platforms, and what that reveals about how the best outcomes in 2025 aren't just about who pays the least or buys the most. It's about buyers who combine market knowledge with better processes, who are adding speed, structure, and visibility to the relationships and instincts they've spent years developing.
Procurement Is Changing - and so Is the Skillset Required
Across the industry, automation is beginning to alleviate the burden of repetitive tasks. Standardised RFQs, structured offers, and faster confirmations are reducing friction. But the value of procurement professionals hasn't diminished - it's shifting.
Buyers are under pressure to build more resilient supply chains, reduce reliance on a shrinking pool of suppliers, and meet new expectations around governance, auditability, and transparency.
The advantage now lies in being able to blend tools with instinct to use technology to move faster, see more, and act with confidence, while still drawing on your understanding of suppliers, timing, and market nuance.
That's where platforms like Nui Marketplace play a role—not as a replacement for how you buy, but as a way to layer digital capability into what already works.
Europe: Moving Early Matters
On the European platform, we've seen the most activity in:
Skim Milk Powder (SMP)
Lactic Butter
Gouda Cheese
Mozzarella Cheese
Sweet Whey Powder (for animal feed applications)
SMP and butter prices have remained firm through the first half of the year, driven by tight milk supply and intermittent disruption from regional disease events. Cheese demand, particularly for Gouda and Mozzarella, continues to reflect strong domestic and foodservice needs. Buyers who moved early and locked in offers ahead of volatility performed best.
We've also seen steady volumes in sweet whey powder, particularly for feed applications—a reminder that market dynamics across segments (human and animal) are closely connected when it comes to raw material availability and pricing.
North America: Functionality in Focus
On the North American side, we've seen the most activity in:
Sweet Whey Powder (SWP)
Nonfat Dry Milk (NFDM)
Anhydrous Milk Fat (AMF)
Cheddar Cheese
Whey Protein Concentrate 34 (WPC34)
While global import trends have softened in some regions, domestic demand—especially for functional, application-specific ingredients—remains strong. WPC34, in particular, is being sourced for nutrition, sports, and health applications, where specification consistency and formulation support are key.
We're seeing more buyers step into a strategic role—coordinating tenders, aligning volume commitments early, and using platforms to streamline sourcing across multiple products and suppliers at once.
Start Where You Are
Nui Marketplace gives buyers access to a pre-qualified supplier network and data-led sourcing tools designed for strategic sourcing, not just spot buying. For many, it's also a way to uncover value from underutilised market segments, including smaller or long-tail suppliers.
As volatility rises and regulatory demands increase, teams are seeking sourcing strategies that strike a balance between agility and control. That means digital tools that support transparency, structured pricing events, and a broader supplier view - not just faster processes, but better ones.
You don't need to overhaul your entire procurement strategy to reap the benefits.
Platforms like Nui Marketplace offer a low-cost way to start upskilling digitally, with no tech investment required, while still maintaining control over how and when you make purchases.
The Real Value?
By working within the Nui Marketplace platforms, buyers can put themselves in a stronger position to reduce risk, optimise total cost of procurement, and meet governance goals, without sacrificing flexibility.
This kind of competitive edge doesn't replace relationships; it enhances them, adding speed, structure, and clarity to the connections you've spent years building.
Learn more about our Marketplaces by visiting https://www.nuimarkets.com/nui-marketplace, and see how easy it is to level up your procurement strategy.