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, co-owner, 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.