15 New Dairy Brands Named to California Milk Program
The California Milk Advisory Board has named 15 companies to the eighth annual Real California Milk Excelerator, selecting brands focused on global flavors, functional nutrition, and convenience. The program, run in partnership with VentureFuel, now operates on two tracks: eight growth-stage companies in the Excelerator and seven earlier-stage products in an Incubator track.
Scaling Innovation
Alumni of the program have generated nearly $60 million in brand sales for the dairy category since 2021. Past winners like Petit Pot and Smearcase have reshaped their segments, and the 2026 class includes brands such as Leo Leo Gelato and Life Raft Treats. The program provides programming, mentorship, and resources to speed company and product growth.
Leo Leo Gelato creates sea salt caramel gelato cookie sandwiches in small batches using fresh dairy from California’s Central Coast. Life Raft Treats provides ice cream bars resembling fried chicken drumsticks, targeting the novelty section. Maazah supplies creamy Afghan yogurt dips crafted with clean ingredients and fresh herbs.
RoseBud Ice Cream delivers soft serve in a mess-free pouch for parlor-style service on the go. Secret Creamery builds super-premium ice cream on a proprietary four-strain probiotic mix with flavors from East and Southeast Asian traditions. Hartman Strawberry/Acai Protein Drink pairs protein and gut-health benefits in a freeze/thaw format with an extended shelf life.
Tulsi Foods makes clean-label paneer using traditional methods without additives, aiming to move the product into the mainstream dairy case. Yah Yah Yah creates ready-to-drink iced lattes inspired by Middle Eastern coffee traditions with real milk, honey, and 5 grams of prebiotic fiber.
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The CMAB, an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, represents the state’s dairy farm families and promotes products made with Real California Milk. California is the nation’s leading milk-producing state.
Competition and Support
The seven companies selected for the earlier-stage Incubator track include Yaza Foods, Freezcake Snacks, Teiny, Mac Squares, Kadak, Spun, and Monava. Their concepts range from labneh and freeze-dried cheesecake to cottage cheese-based snacks, frozen mac and cheese, and ready-to-drink beverages.
The program culminates in December with a pitch event in San Luis Obispo, California. The eight Excelerator companies will present to a live judging panel. Four finalists will each receive $30,000 in marketing support, tracked for in-market performance over the following 12 months. The winners compete for a $100,000 grand prize to be awarded in 2027.
The event also will reveal the $100,000 grand prize winner from the 2025 finalist group.
