Danone and Starbucks are to develop and launch a range of Greek yoghurts in the US.
The yoghurts will be sold under Starbucks’ Evolution Fresh brand, under which it already sells juices and smoothies.
The Parfait Greek yoghurts, which will carry the line “inspired by Dannon”, will go on sale in Starbucks stores next year and rolled out to US grocery outlets in 2015. Danone and Starbucks said they would look to take the products into other markets at a later date.
The companies said they would “seek additional ways to leverage joint opportunities across other products and markets” beyond yoghurt.
Danone CEO Franck Riboud often calls the US an emerging market for yoghurt, with per capita consumption low when compared to Europe but sales growing quickly.
He said today (23 July): “With a fast-growing but still low penetration of the yogurt category, the US remains a key growth opportunity for Danone. The recent success of the Greek segment and our Oikos brand have confirmed the growing appeal of tasty and nutritious yogurts for US consumers and established Dannon’s leadership in the market. We believe this attraction will be further enhanced by our new access to millions of consumers through distribution in Starbucks stores, as well as through the addition of an exciting new brand, Evolution Fresh, inspired by Dannon.”
Starbucks already offers yoghurt products in its stores and the coffee chain said the deal with Danone would “transform” its portfolio.
“We are energised by the strong customer response to Evolution FreshTM offerings, and believe a strategic agreement with Danone, the world leader in fresh dairy products, affords us the perfect opportunity to grow – and elevate – the Evolution Fresh brand both in our stores and in consumer packaged goods channels,” Starbucks chairman, president and CEO Howard Schultz said.
