Traders Say Cheese With Dairy.Com Exchange

Compiled ByDeborah Austin With 30 companies representing cheese sales of $18-billion-plus initially registered for trading, independent Internet-based commodities exchange Dairy.com has launched its new Dairy.com Cheese Exchange. The exchange provides 24-hour trading of any cheese type or grade. It enables sellers to market products to the entire industry. Buyers, can access a centralized pool of inventory. "Until now, trading cheese has meant calling, faxing or e-mailing numerous current or targeted customers, hoping that one or some of them have a need for your products," says Mark Korsmeyer, vice president of sales and marketing for exchange member company Dairy Farmers of America. Other members include Kraft Foods, ConAgra Dairy Foods and Land O'Lakes. Dallas-based Dairy.com traded more than $150 million in fluid commodities this year.