YOGURT CULTURE IS ACTIVE AND WELL

Yogurt, both dairy and non-dairy, is a universal food. Circana’s data¹ shows an 82% U.S. household penetration overall for the category, including 80% for dairy yogurt, 25% for yogurt drinks, and 6.7% for alternative yogurt products. Dairy yogurt represents the 11th highest purchasing penetration globally among food and beverage categories, with 46% of consumers having purchased spoonable or drinkable yogurt in the past year. Non-dairy yogurt has the 89th highest penetration, with 10% of consumers having purchased it in the past year. 57% of dairy yogurt consumers eat it 1 to 6 times per week, while 52% of non-dairy yogurt consumers say the same, per Innova Market Insights². Consumers’ interest in health drives yogurt innovation with activity in low/no sugar and reduced fat formulas, high protein content, new flavors, and precision fermentation.

JUST THE NUMBERS

The overall yogurt category saw U.S. sales rise 6.5% to $10.8 billion for the 52 weeks ending August 11, 2024. Sales of dairy yogurt rose 6.8% to $9.2 billion, and dairy yogurt drinks were up 7.3% to $1.4 billion. However, dairy alternative yogurt sales declined; alt yogurt decreased 5.8% to $282.9 million, while alternative yogurt drink sales were down 26.2% to $495,000, according to Circana¹. Kefir³, a fermented beverage made from milk and kefir grains with a sour taste and fizzy consistency, is gaining momentum because of its probiotic gut health properties. Kefir’s household penetration grew 15%, and yogurt drinks grew almost 9%, versus a year ago, for the 52 weeks ending September 8, 2024. Sales grew for both in that period: Yogurt drinks grew 7.3% versus a year ago, and kefir grew 24.7% over last year, according to Circana⁴. For example, in the fall, Danone launched its first kefir range in the UK under the Activia brand. Single-serve drinkable kefir is available in Natural and Strawberry flavors, and spoonable kefir is offered in Natural and Strawberry & Raspberry varieties.

NO/LOW CLAIMS ON THE RISE

Consumers’ health journey continues as they seek better-for-you ingredients and products. No/low fat and sugar claims are prominent in the yogurt aisle.

Innova’s data⁵ on low/no/reduced fat dairy & non-dairy yogurt showed:

In the U.S. & Canada, low/no/reduced fat claims share rose 7.6% between Jul 2022-Jun 2023 and Jul 2023-Jun 2024
20% and 18% of respondents in the U.S. & Canada seek low/no/reduced fat claims while purchasing dairy & non-dairy yogurt
Supporting this preference, low/no/reduced fat claims grew +22% (CAGR) during Jul 2021-Jun 2024

According to Circana’s research¹ on sweetener claims for the 52 weeks ending September 8, 2024:

No added sweeteners is the most common claim in the yogurt category, up 41%
No/low/less sugar up 24%
Sweetener-free up 14%
Natural sweetener (mainly honey) up 8%

Similarly, Innova’s research⁶ revealed that sugar-related claims are the most influential health claim across dairy and non-dairy yogurts and rank above protein and fat. Sugar-free claims in yogurt and dairy alternative yogurt have grown at +17% and +29% CAGR (Q3 2018 – Q3 2023).

YOGURT PACKS A PROTEIN PUNCH

Health-conscious consumers have a growing interest in protein, and yogurt is an easily accessible source. 51% of consumers eat yogurt for its health benefits and 50% for its taste. For non-dairy yogurt consumers, these percentages are 42% and 39%, respectively, per Innova⁶. As of 2024, yogurt is seeing an uptick in popularity with social conversations up 8.28% over the past year and the fastest rising consumer need is protein, according to Tastewise⁷. Between Jul 2023 – Jun 2024, high/source of protein was the top yogurt claim, up 3% in dairy and 2% in non-dairy¹.

Chobani’s research⁸ revealed:

Protein is a priority: 85% of Americans want to increase the amount of protein they eat next year, but 24% agree that they do not consume enough currently
Taste reigns supreme: Unsurprisingly, taste is the #1 attribute people think about when evaluating daily protein intake, with 87% of Americans prioritizing flavors, followed by amount of protein (74%) and amount of sugar (71%) per serving

Brands are capitalizing on consumers’ interest in protein-packed yogurts and delivering new products. Chobani has added Chobani High Protein to its portfolio. The line includes yogurt cups with 20 grams of protein and drinks with 15, 20, or 30 grams of protein. There are several flavors such as Cherry Berry, Cherry Vanilla, Cookies & Cream, Mango, Mixed Berry Vanilla, Peaches & Cream, Raspberry Lemon, Strawberry Kiwi, Strawberries & Cream, Tropical Punch, and Vanilla. The flavors vary depending on the protein levels. LALA Gold is a new high-protein yogurt in drinkable and spoonable options. It is offered in five flavors: Blueberry, Cookies & Cream, Raspberry Key Lime, Strawberry, and Vanilla. The drinkable yogurt contains 25 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber while the spoonable yogurt features 20 grams of protein and 1 gram of fiber. Yoplait Protein by General Mills Inc. is the brand’s highest protein and lowest sugar product to date. The product is formulated using ultra-filtered milk with 15 grams of protein, 3 grams of sugar, and 100 calories per 5.6-oz serving. Varieties include single-serve and 30-oz tub containers and flavors include Cherry, Key Lime Pie, Mixed Berry, Peach, Strawberry, Strawberry Banana, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Vanilla. British brand Nush reformulated its yogurt range with a new high-protein recipe and unveiled a new Vanilla Fudge flavor.

Consumers’ quest for protein is not waning. Trilogy produces liquid and powder flavors for protein products, which are compatible with different delivery systems, such as emulsions and compounded flavors. Our protein flavors can satisfy clean label, vegetarian, kosher, and halal requirements. We also offer certified organic and non-GMO flavors. Contact us to discuss your protein flavor needs and request your samples.

LOCK IN FLAVORS

Like all food and beverages, taste and flavor are important to consumers. Nearly half of U.S. consumers (48%) consider taste a top reason for eating yogurt, followed by health benefits (38%) and nutritional value (37%), according to research from the International Food Information Council (IFIC)⁹. According to Innova⁶, the four most common yogurt flavors in the five major global regions are Strawberry, Vanilla, Peach, and Blueberry. Between Jul 2023 – Jun 2024, strawberry is the top flavor in the U.S. and Canada. Furthermore, almost 1 in 3 consumers prefer fruit/superfruit flavors. Passion fruit, coconut, guava, key lime, and cheesecake flavors are gaining prominence⁵.

To meet consumer demand, brands are launching a variety of flavors. Danone debuted the REMIX portfolio featuring a yogurt or dairy base with mix-in toppings, across three brands. The Light + Fit REMIX is offered in Brownie Sundae, Key Lime, and Strawberry Cheesecake varieties. Oikos REMIX is available in three varieties: Coco Almond Chocolate, S’mores, and Salted Caramel. Too Good & Co. REMIX comes in Banana Dark Chocolate Honey, Blueberry Almond Oat Crisp, and Strawberry Dark Chocolate Almond. General Mills collaborated with the U.S. Dairy Checkoff program to create YoBark, a refrigerated yogurt-based snack. The YoBark snacks combine yogurt with General Mills brand Nature Valley’s granola and come in Honey Vanilla and Strawberry flavors. In Italy, Lactalis and Nestlé designed Piacere di Yogurt, a creamy, “ultra fresh” line in four flavors: Apricot, Coconut, Coffee, and Vanilla. Organic Skyr yogurt brand Painterland Sisters introduced Passion Fruit, its first exclusive flavor, at Sprouts Farmers Market locations. Frozen yogurt has also been experimenting with flavors. For example, Menchie’s and HI-CHEW released a limited-edition HI-CHEW Key Lime Pie frozen yogurt; it is the brand’s sixth collaboration. For the new year, Pinkberry introduced Yuzu Meringue frozen yogurt. Dry yogurt¹⁰ is one of the many viral food and beverage trends taking over TikTok. Individuals strain yogurt to remove the liquid whey. After dehydrating the yogurt, it has a thick, almost clay-like consistency. The dry yogurt is then used as a sweet base for yogurt bowls decorated with fruit and other toppings.

Trilogy’s flavorsome products are suitable for dairy-based yogurt and plant-based yogurt. Reach out to us here and request your samples here.

PRECISION FERMENTATION LEADS PLANT-BASED INNOVATION

Plant-based dairy yogurt innovation has slowed down. However, precision fermentation¹¹, a biotechnology process that uses genetically modified microorganisms to produce sustainable, bio-identical milk proteins without using animals, is leading new plant-based yogurt innovation. Icelandic Provisions launched the Oatmilk Skyr as an alternative dairy version of its signature product. The new plant-based products come in Blueberry, Peach, Mango & Passion Fruit Vanilla Bean, and Strawberry flavors. Nature’s Fynd introduced Dairy-Free Fy Yogurt, which is made with the brand’s sustainable fungi protein in three flavors: Peach, Strawberry, and Vanilla. Bored Cow developed the “first of its kind” range of drinkable yogurt made with milk protein from fermentation, coconut cream, and cane sugar in three flavors: Passion Fruit Mango, Strawberry, and Vanilla.

Trilogy Flavors offers a selection of plant-based yogurt flavors. Request your samples here.

THE CULTURE OF YOGURT IS ALIVE

Yogurt is a household staple. It is popular because of its perceived health properties. Low/no sugar and reduced fat formulas, high protein content, new flavors, and precision fermentation drive innovation. Fruit flavors are the most popular and expected with more decadent flavors like chocolate and dessert-inspired flavors launching. “Value-added dairy products are on trend. Products that offer digestive health, protein, low sugar, lactose-free, and ultra-pasteurized (extended shelf life) are all potential winning positions for dairy,” states John Crawford of Circana.

Whether you are formulating dairy or plant-based dairy alternatives for high protein, low sugar, or reduced fat formulas, Trilogy offers flavors for all your yogurt needs. Request your samples here and reach out to us today.

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