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Chobani

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Unilever is building on its push into branded ice cream retail with the acquisition of Italian gelato group Grom. And Unilever is not the only manufacturer working to expand its branded retail presence, particularly in "treat" or gifting categories. Katy Askew looks at the benefits branded retailing offers food manufacturers. 

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Size matters, right? Scale - and the economic benefits that come with it - provide a business with clout smaller competitors find hard to battle. However, could large food companies be losing some of the advantage gained from their size?

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With its latest new products, Chobani has signalled its ambitions - but the moves into categories like desserts and oatmeal could also suggest the privately-owned US yoghurt group is feeling the pressure in its core sector.

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Chobani is the leading US manufacturer in the lucrative, high-growth Greek yoghurt sector. But with rising competition from the larger dairy majors - and Chobani's own growth aspirations globally - the company could well be wise to consider ways to secure a cash injection, Katy Askew suggests.

In 2012, around the height of the Greek yoghurt boom in the US, Powerful Yoghurt launched with a high-protein product tailored for men. The business has carved out a foothold in a tough market, one that has become more competitive as consumer demand for protein-enriched foods rises. Dean Best caught up with Powerful Yogurt founder and CEO Carlos Ramirez to find out how the company is faring.

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Greek dairy manufacturer Fage is eyeing growth in Europe as the Greek yoghurt craze in the US loses steam. Katy Askew caught up with the company at the SIAL exhibition in Paris to find out more.

US-based yogurt manufacturer Chobani has launched its first product outside the Greek-style segment in its domestic market.

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US yoghurt maker Chobani, which last year launched an incubator programme for six start-up food businesses, is to hold the scheme again and has invited applications for consideration.

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Former Nestle executive Tim Brown has been hired by Chobani to become the Greek-style yogurt producer's president and COO.

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US yogurt giant Chobani has confirmed COO Kevin Burns is to leave the company later this month.

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A maker of jerky snacks, a supplier of organic chocolate and a company behind grass-fed bone broth are among the six businesses set to join the "food incubator" set up by US yogurt giant Chobani.

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Chobani, the largest Greek-style yogurt brand in the US, is expanding its operations by entering the Mexican market with the launch of two lines in the country. 

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Privately-owned, US-based yogurt maker Chobani is open to investing in entrepreneurial companies it plans to help through its new food incubator programme.

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Chobani, the US-based Greek-style yoghurt maker, said it plans to enter Mexico and Puerto Rico this year as it detailed a "major expansion" to its manufacturing facility in Twin Falls, Idaho. 

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Chobani, the US-based Greek-style yoghurt producer, is widening the range of products it sells domestically with the launch of yoghurt drinks and dips.

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Chobani yoghurt is being used in products on sale at McDonald's outlets in southern California.

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PepsiCo is looking to acquire businesses but is finding it difficult to find the right companies to buy, chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi has indicated.

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Chobani has turned down offers from suitors interested in investing in the US yoghurt maker, just-food understands.

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Chobani has announced it is expanding its portfolio in Australia with the launch of a range of "high protein" dips.

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Chobani has been ordered to suspend a marketing campaign highlighting the artificial ingredients in Danone's low-fat yoghurt line.

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General Mills has been awarded a preliminary injunction that will halt Chobani's adverts contrasting the "natural" ingredients in its Simply 100 yoghurt against the "artificial" additives contained in Yoplait Greek 100 line. 

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US group Hain Celestial this week cut its forecasts for annual sales and earnings amid pressure on its domestic business. The company's management also presented at the ICR investment conference, where it sought to be upbeat about Hain's prospects. Staying in the US, Danone warned it could pursue legal action over Chobani's "misleading and deceptive marketing" which targeted its Light & Fit brand. Elsewhere, Irish dairy co-op Ornua announced the acquisition of Chinese group Ambrosia. And we analysed General Mills' recent acquisitions of Brazilian yoghurt maker Carolina and US meat snacks firm Epic Provisions. Here is the week in quotes.

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Danone has indicated it will "pursue all available avenues" to block rival Chobani's "misleading and deceptive marketing" after the US group launched an advertising campaign that highlighted the use of sweeteners in the companies' products.

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Chobani, the US-based yoghurt group, has admitted it is weighing up interest from companies looking at investing in the business - and this week the identity of some purported suitors emerged. Staying in dairy, Vietnam's government is looking to sell its 45% stake in Vinamilk, which dominates much of the growing sector there. And a Friday one-two from Nestle, which cut its forecast for annual sales after a challenging, Maggi-affected third quarter and then confirmed tests in India allow the company to at least resume production of the noodles.

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Coca-Cola Co. has reportedly stopped talks with Chobani after deciding the US yoghurt maker did not fit its portfolio.

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PepsiCo is reportedly vying with arch-rival Coca-Cola Co. to invest in Chobani, the US-based yoghurt maker that has driven the rise of the Greek yoghurt market in the country.

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Russia this week said it would extend its restrictions on food imports to four more countries. In India, the ban on Nestle's Maggi noodles was overturned - although the products will have to be tested again. In the US, Kraft Heinz Co. announced plans to cut 2,500 jobs, while co-investor Warren Buffett cooled talk over a bid - in the short term at least - for Mondelez International. And in Europe, Nomad Foods struck a deal to buy Findus Group's operations in seven markets.

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Chobani has been approached by parties eyeing a possible investment in the US-based yoghurt maker and has appointed advisors to mull over the interest, just-food understands.

Chobani has led the boom in US demand for Greek yoghurt in recent years but its success has attracted rivals - including those with deep pockets - to the category. One, General Mills, has targeted Chobani in taste test ads for its Yoplait brand. Chobani has brushed off the move.