Month: May 2026

Jeremy’s Journey

From Dairy Farm Roots to Process Engineering Expert

Growing up on a dairy farm in New Zealand meant Jeremy has always had a connection to the dairy industry. An interest in applying science to real world problems led him to pursue a bachelor’s, master’s and PhD in Process Engineering from Massey University in New Zealand, setting the stage for a career built on both practical understanding and academic depth.

A Career Built on Curiosity and Continuous Improvement

Since joining Hilmar 17 years ago, Jeremy’s career has spanned multiple facets of R&D – from supporting pharmaceutical and refined lactose production to pioneering initiatives in cheese and innovation. These experiences deepened his expertise in product and process development, scale-up and technical troubleshooting.

Today, as Senior Director of Technical Services and R&D, Jeremy oversees teams skilled in:

• Cheese and Whey Technology
• Microbiology
• Applications
• Product and Process Development
• Water Treatment
• Loss reduction and system optimization

His team supports both manufacturing and customer-facing functions—ensuring Hilmar’s products meet customer needs and rigorous quality standards while maximizing the value recovered from every drop of milk.

Innovation That Makes an Impact

Among his proudest achievements, Jeremy led the development of Hilmar’s unique, patented smoked cheese process. This innovative method sets Hilmar apart in the industry by smoking cheese efficiently at scale, offering customers a superior smoked flavor and clean label from natural smoke with no added ingredients.

Listening, Learning and Leading by Example

Throughout his 17 years at Hilmar, Jeremy has been influenced by several mentors, both past and present. One lesson that continues to stand out to him: “Get involved, listen and look for opportunities to add value.”

Another piece of advice came from one of Hilmar’s earliest employees, Larry Fillman who was the director of cheese sales at the time: “If you wouldn’t be prepared to do it yourself, then don’t expect others to do it for you.”

These guiding principles underpin Jeremy’s leadership style – rooted in curiosity and an interest in solving problems continue to shape how he leads today.

The Surprising Skills That Matter

One of Jeremy’s most-used tools isn’t found in a lab; he notes that decades of dairy science research exist in books and journals. “Taking the time to find, read and apply that knowledge is key to technical advancement. It also gives you an appreciation that what we do today is built upon the hard work and intelligence of those who worked in this industry before us,” he says.

Advice for the Next Generation

Jeremy encourages early-career professionals to:

• Spend time talking with people to understand their work and listen to their suggestions for improvement
• Combine this hands-on experience with your own expertise and skills to identify opportunities that advance your ideas
• Build progress one day at a time

His own PhD experience was shaped by time in the plant, working alongside operators who understood the nuances of lactose crystallization firsthand. “Their experiences and observations were extremely useful as they allowed me to blend the practical with the science I was studying.”

Motivated by People, Culture and Purpose

When asked what makes him proud to work at Hilmar, Jeremy doesn’t hesitate:

“The culture. People here are given the opportunity to learn through both success and failure. Seeing people who grow from that and use it to continually improve themselves and Hilmar—that’s what makes me proud.”

That mindset reflects Hilmar’s purpose of “Improving Lives Together” and its company values of relationship, integrity, improvement, teamwork and excellence.

Jeremy McLeod’s leadership is a living example of The Hilmar Way – pairing deep technical expertise with strong relationships and a commitment to curiosity, innovation and continuous improvement. His deep technical expertise, collaborative approach and passion for learning help Hilmar deliver the advancements that benefit Hilmar’s operations, products and customers every day.

Dr. Chao Wu was presented with the American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI) C. Earl Gray Award of Merit at the 2026 ADPI Annual Conference.

Hilmar, Calif. May 12, 2026. Hilmar is proud to announce that Dr. Chao Wu, Director of Product Research, has been named the 2026 recipient of the American Dairy Products Institute (ADPI) C. Earl Gray Award of Merit, one of the dairy ingredients industry’s highest honors.

The C. Earl Gray Award of Merit is presented annually to recognize individuals who have made lasting contributions to the dairy products industry through leadership, technical excellence and service. Dr. Wu was selected for his more than 35 years of dedication to advancing dairy protein science, industry standards and global nutrition markets.

“This recognition is a testament to Chao’s lifelong dedication to innovation, education and the advancement of our industry,” shared Greg Schlafer, CEO, “Beyond his technical accomplishments, Chao is a respected leader and teammate whose humility, curiosity and collaborative spirit have made a lasting impact at Hilmar and across the dairy community.”

Dr. Chao Wu is pictured with Brad Nyman, Marina Crocker, senior director – product category and marketing, and Greg Schalfer, chief executive officer and president.

Dr. Wu joined Hilmar in 1998 and currently leads collaborative research efforts focused on the nutritional and functional benefits of dairy-derived specialty ingredients. Over the course of his career, he has played a pivotal role in developing dairy protein–based ingredients used in early-life, medical and adult nutrition applications worldwide. He holds multiple patents related to large-scale protein-enriched whey processing, reflecting his role as a driving force behind technical innovation in dairy processing. While some of these technologies remain proprietary, their influence has been broadly felt across the industry. His work has helped enable the large-scale production and adoption of protein-enriched whey ingredients that support global health and wellness markets.

Beyond his contributions at Hilmar, Dr. Wu has been a longstanding leader within ADPI. He currently serves as Chair of the ADPI Technical Committee and Co-Chair of the ADPI Standards Committee, where he has helped advance standards across dairy protein ingredient categories. Among his most notable industry contributions are his leadership in establishing the WPPC Infant GRAS and the whey protein hydrolysates standards, both of which have helped shape today’s global dairy protein marketplace. Dr. Wu’s expertise has also extended through his involvement with standards development efforts with USP and AOAC International, further supporting industry alignment, quality and credibility.

Dr. Wu holds a master’s degree in Food Science and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Chemistry from the University of California, Davis. Throughout his career, he has maintained a strong commitment to academic collaboration, partnering with UC Davis and universities across the United States and China to advance research initiatives spanning cognition rapid response nutrition medical nutrition and early-life nutrition.

Hilmar congratulates Dr. Wu on this well-earned recognition and celebrates his enduring impact on our organization and the dairy ingredients industry.

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About Hilmar®

Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. uses the power and promise of dairy to improve lives together. We provide health and nutrition for consumers, contribute to brand success for our customers, create opportunities for employees, support independent milk producers and improve the communities where we live and work. With a focus on collaborative product innovation, real-time scalability and a progressive approach to sustainability, Hilmar is a global leader in efficiently producing functional cheese and whey ingredients at scale. We deliver high-quality products to customers in more than 50 countries. Founded in 1984, Hilmar operates manufacturing plants in Hilmar, California; Dalhart, Texas; and Dodge City, Kansas. For more information, visit www.hilmar.com and LinkedIn @Hilmar.