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Indulgence Without the Guilt

Yogurt has become a staple in healthy indulgence. As companies innovate to meet the demand for convenient, nutritious, and tasteful snacks, yogurt has moved beyond the breakfast menu. Greek-style yogurt and its added benefits have given yogurt sales major growth. Classic berry and yogurt combinations are now competing with passion fruit, peanut butter & jelly, rhubarb, pumpkin, beet, tomato, and other savory flavors.

Yogurt is On the Rise

From 2009-2014 Mintel shows yogurt and yogurt drink sales increased by 46%. Since 2011, most of the growth has been driven by the introduction of Greek-style products. Globally we saw a 16% increase in new product introductions from 2013-2014. There was 5% growth in North America.

Consumers are becoming more health conscious and this has caused a shift towards healthy indulgence. They want to have their “cake” without adding to their waistline. Sweet treat and dessert inspired yogurts like Bananas Foster Caramel, Boston Cream Pie and Caramel Macchiato are just a few that have already hit the market. Sales in spoonable yogurt have experienced significant growth at 51%, while yogurt drink sales have decreased by 11%.

In North America there have been 195 new yogurt products introduced in 2015. These products include yogurt drinks, dessert inspired yogurt flavors, children’s yogurts, Greek yogurts, coffee yogurts and classic berry flavored yogurts.

Look Out Berries!

Places like Pinkberry, Sweet CeCe’s and TCBY have become popular dessert spots that focus on frozen yogurt, but health reasons are the top consumer drivers when it comes to yogurt. According to Mintel, 44% of consumers still choose yogurt because it is a healthier option and 40% for digestive health reasons.

Strawberry was the top flavor followed by plain up until 2014 when plain surpassed it. Plain continues to hold its lead for top yogurt flavor in 2015 new product introductions. Over the past five years vanilla and peach have battled back and forth for the number three spot—vanilla currently holds that spot for 2014 and 2015. Passion fruit, chocolate, apricot, mango, lemon, and coconut were some of the over indexing flavors from 2014.

Top Global Yogurt Flavors

• Plain
• Strawberry
• Vanilla
• Peach
• Raspberry
• Blueberry
• Mango
• Banana
• Apple
• Passion fruit

Children's Yogurt

Mintel reports that 89% of households with children consume and purchase yogurt and yogurt drinks. Adults with children are significantly more likely to purchase yogurt than those without. The probiotics, protein, and calcium in yogurt make it a healthy snack option for children. Products like Danimals’ Smoothies and Go-Gurt allow kids to take the snack on the go without a mess because rather than a cup or tub of yogurt, they come in small tubes that easily fit in children’s hands. More children’s yogurts are moving toward healthier products that are low-fat, contain added vitamins, have little to no high fructose corn syrup, and more protein.

Products of Note

Yoplait Low-Fat Yogurt

Trader Joe's Cherry & Berry Organic Low-fat Yogurt Squishers