Posted: May 5, 2008 at 3:43 pm
By News Editor
Stonyfield Farm has been chosen as the Manufacturer of the Year for Global Supply Chain Excellence. The award is given by the World Trade Magazine to manufacturers whose approach to supply chain management would be an inspiration to others. Previous winners include: Procter & Gamble, Ford, IBM and Texas Instruments.
The thing to know about Gary Hirshberg, the Chairman/President of Stonyfield Farm, is not that his ryderorganic yogurt company has grown from a local New Hampshire home-spun operation into a fast-growing $300 million a year enterprise; nor that the company is driven by an environmental mission to which the business model must conform. Rather, it is the factoid in his Wikipedia entry that says he scored the first touchdown in the history of inter-collegiate Ultimate Frisbee.
It is such exuberance that characterizes what at first glance seems an unlikely CEO (or, as his card reads, CE-Yo as in yogurt) heading an unlikely company. Both are committed to aggressively forging the way toward a carbon neutral supply chain strategy—one, most emphatically, which enhances profit rather than hampers it.
At first glance, Stonyfield Farm hardly belongs in this league. It obviously operates on a much smaller, predominately domestic scale (although since being 80 percent bought by Group Danone in 2001, the product line is beginning to enter Europe on a small scale). Nor is its inbound supply chain, with the exception mostly of berries and sugar, international. “At the beginning,” recalls Steve Inamorati, VP/Supply Chain and Logistics, “we had to source everything ourselves because there weren’t a lot of organic sources. Ideally, now we’d like to be out of sourcing, but we still need to verify the ethics and organic practices of our vendors.”
So why did we choose Stonyfield? Because the company has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to social responsibility since its inception and, in so doing, constitutes a strong case for the unanticipated financial benefits that accompany that commitment. As climate change becomes ever more destructive, business faces challenges. Managers are already being asked to respond, to adapt operating practices to new criteria, which help off-set the cost of social externalities—like pollution and environmental destruction—while still growing the enterprise. Stonyfield Farms affords a compelling example of how this can be done.
Posted: April 20, 2008 at 12:27 pm
By News Editor
The Wisconsin Dairy Products Association (WDPA) is looking for a few good judges for their annual World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product Contest. The contest, held in conjunction with the World Dairy Expo, is in its sixth year. Do you have what it takes to be a judge? Then be sure to get your resume to the WDPA by May 23, 2008!
This year’s contest will have 55 different categories, encompassing a wide range of dairy products that include, cheese, butter, milk, ice cream, yogurt, whey, cottage cheese, sour cream, whipping cream and more.
WDPA is issuing a “call for judges” for the championship dairy product contest. WDPA is seeking judges for these products:
Cheese and Butter – 10 judges needed
Yogurt – 2 judges
Ice Cream and Sherbet – 2 judges
Whey Products – 2 judges
Cottage Cheese, Sour Cream and Sour Cream Dips – 2 judges
Fluid Milk and Cultured Buttermilk – 2 judges
Interested parties should send their resumes to Wisconsin Dairy Products Assn, 8383 Greenway Blvd, Middleton, WI 53562.
Posted: April 3, 2008 at 6:20 pm
By News Editor
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USDA) has announced the recall of Stonyfield Farm brand non-fat blueberry yogurt products due to possible contamination.
The Londonderry, N.H., company said it initiated its voluntary recall because of the possibility of glass fragments in the product. Being recalled are 6-ounce containers of fat free blueberry yogurts carrying one of following product codes printed along the cup bottom that start with the following dates: “Apr 14 08,” “Apr 15 08,” “April 25 08,” or “Apr 26 08.”
The yogurt is sold at natural food and grocery stores nationwide. Consumers are instructed to return opened and unopened containers to their retailers for a refund. Consumers with questions can contact the company at 800-776-2697.
“Our first priority has always been and always will be the welfare of our consumers,” says Gary Hirshberg, Stonyfield Farm President and CE-Yo. “While we continue to investigate these complaints and believe that the risk of injury is extremely remote, we feel that this voluntary measure is the prudent and responsible step at this time.”
Posted: March 5, 2008 at 5:33 pm
By News Editor
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis will be starring in new ads for the Dannon yogurt Activia. The company plans to air commercials in two phases, with the second phase encouraging viewers to submit their “Acitivia Story”.
One of the spots shows Curtis relaxing on a couch with a newspaper. “First the bad news,” she says, showing the headline, and explaining that 87% of Americans suffer from digestive issues like irregularity. “Now the good news,” she says, showing a container of Activia. Tag: “Today, for tomorrow.”
Jeffrey Rothman, Activia brand director, says the target is primarily women because they suffer from digestive problems more frequently than men. “However, digestive health is an issue that impacts virtually everyone. And, we feel campaign has the power to influence everyone,” he says.
Rothman says that in the first phase Curtis helps the everyday person get comfortable with talking about digestive health as she discovers Activia. “In the second phase, she will be actively recruiting real people to submit their ‘Activia Story.’ It will be primarily executed on TV and online,” he says.
Posted: January 25, 2008 at 9:14 pm
By News Editor
Wells Dairy, Inc., Le Mars, Iowa, has announced its decision to sell it yogurt facility in Omaha, Nebraska to Mexican company called Grupo LaLa. Late last month the company also announced that it is selling milk plant to Dallas-based Dean Foods Co.
Today, it announced the sale of its yogurt facility in Omaha to a Mexican company called Grupo LaLa. Grupo LaLa has more than 27,000 associates throughout the U.S., Mexico and Latin America. The Omaha plant has about 115 employees who both companies say will be offered an opportunity to stay.
Posted: January 14, 2008 at 5:56 pm
By News Editor
Dannon will introduce new yogurt offerings that will have benefits beyond basic nutrition, including probiotics. The two new products are called Light & Fit 0% Plus and DanActive Light, a new version of DanActive that has fewer than half the calories.
The two products, hitting stores this month, are the latest manifestation of the company’s “high-health strategy,” a concept of providing consumers with yogurt with benefits beyond basic nutrition. Previous efforts in that vein include probiotic yogurts Activia (in 2006), DanActive (2007) and Dannon Activia Light (2007).
“Our strategy focuses on the absence of negatives, in terms of calories, and the presence of positives, that is, the addition of nutrients and vitamins in diets,” said Andreas Ostermayr, CMO, Dannon, White Plains, N.Y.
Light & Fit 0% Plus ads launching next month will focus on “making every calorie count and adding nutrients into diets, rather than simply reducing calories,” said Ostermayr. Young & Rubicam, New York, handles.
The seven-SKU Light & Fit 0% Plus line retails between $2.59 and $4.69 for four- and eight-packs, and sports 60 calories per 4-oz. cup. “Consumers often have to sacrifice taste when eating light products,” said Ostermayr. “Our objective was to create a great tasting light yogurt that doesn’t taste light.” To achieve that goal, Dannon decided to go with a new proprietary blend of sweeteners that includes aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium and fructose.
A longtime runner-up to General Mills’ Yoplait in the U.S., Dannon appears to be benefiting from its focus on healthier yogurt. Activia has grown 48% to $181.3 million in sales, per IRI, for the 52-week period ending Dec. 2. DanActive experienced 185% growth, recording sales of $60 million during that period. Dannon Activia Light (2007) had 197.5% growth with sales of $57 million.
Posted: November 28, 2007 at 9:37 pm
By News Editor
Cabot Creamery Cooperative–best known for its Cheddar cheese–has begun marketing Cabot Greek Style Yogurt. The product is currently available only in Shaw’s Supermarkets, a division of Supervalu with locations primarily in the Northeast, and Publix supermarkets in Florida.
Six-ounce packages will initially come in four flavors: Peach, Strawberry, Vanilla Bean and Honey. A 32-ounce plain size is also available. The company had initially planned on targeting the culinary and cooking markets for the product, but discovered through research that some people were looking at it as an indulgent snack, Davis says. Thus, the flavored varieties.
Greek-style yogurt has been increasing in popularity over the past year. This summer, Fage–an 81-year old brand–broke its first advertising in the U.S. with a two-page ad in New York Magazine. On the left side of the layout were fashion accessories like a watch or a strand of pearls, while on the other side was a picture of a white, creamy substance with an impression of the accessory embedded in it.
Posted: November 19, 2007 at 7:05 pm
By News Editor
Yogurt has fast become a “super” food in 2007 - and one doctor in Denver, Colo. is reminding consumers that yogurt can help improve immunity.
Foods available at the grocery store that claim to boost immunity are a simple matter of eating good bacteria to fight bad bacteria and viruses. Foods with pro-biotics can improve immunity and perhaps digestion, Dr. Dave Hnida reports.
Several studies show people who eat yogurt every day producer more infection fighting cells and have stronger immune systems than those who don’t eat yogurt.
As long as it says live and active cultures on the label, any yogurt should do the trick, Hnida says.
There are some products and special yogurts that have concentrated amounts of a special good bacteria that can also really improve the immune system. Lab studies seem to prove that those claims hold water.
Posted: October 29, 2007 at 8:57 pm
By News Editor
A new study conducted by General Mills, the maker of Yoplait yogurt, points to a link between healthier body weight and better nutrient intakes among those who consume yogurt.
The food manufacturer has announced results of a 14-day study conducted by the General Mills Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition in Minneapolis. The researchers investigated the diets of approximately 3,000 women aged 19 and older. The research found that those women who consumed three or more servings of yogurt over the two-week period had a 15 percent lower body mass index (BMI) than those who did not eat any yogurt.
The initiative opens another health pathway along which yogurt can be marketed. The product is increasingly being proffered to consumers as delivery of friendly bacteria for gut and immune health, probiotics.
“Obesity continues to be a leading health risk for Americans of all ages,” said the research leader, Ann Albertson, senior nutrition scientist at the Bell Institute. “Our findings build on previous studies and offer good news for yogurt eaters.”
The weight management potential of yogurt likely comes from the fact that while it can be high in calories, it is still a relatively healthy snack food that promotes satiety. The study found that the participants mainly eat yogurt at breakfast. Among the women who ate yogurt, 34 percent did so at breakfast, 38 percent at lunch, 19 percent did so as a snack and nine percent at dinner. The women who ate yogurt regularly were also more like to have higher overall intakes for nutrients including calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B-12, magnesium and phosphorous.
Posted: October 18, 2007 at 7:27 pm
By News Editor
I can’t wait to see the results of this contest - the Stonyfield Farm YoBaby Cover Contest. Starting July 15, the organic yogurt company received 44,000 entries for the face that will convey the YoBaby image of healthy goodness. You can help pick the winner for the eight finalists - be sure to cast your vote before October 21st! These baby faces will be sure to make you say, “Awww! How cute!”
Four finalists from each category have been chosen and posted on the website for the public to choose from. The contest entires can be seen on the front page of YoBabyYogurt.com. The final entries will be posted sometime Oct. 15, so be sure to keep checking in every now and again throughout the day. Once voting starts, elimination begins, the final day to cast your votes is Oct. 21. Hurry up and get your votes counted.
The Stonyfield Farm YoBaby Cover Contest will have two grand prize winners, one from each category of the 6-12 months, and the toddlers, 13-24 months. Each grand prize winner will receive a $5,000 U.S. Savings Bond, childhood portraits from The Picture People, and a fabulous trip to San Fransisco for a photo shoot of a lifetime with all expenses paid.
The Stonyfield Farm President released a statement on the day the contest began which said, “We’re looking for faces that convey the YoBaby image of healthy goodness along with the child’s inner beauty and unique personality,” he also adds “Sure, that’s a tall order, but we’re looking forward to ‘meeting’ babies and toddlers whose innocence and twinkle will bring a smile.”
Posted: September 20, 2007 at 7:32 pm
By News Editor
The National Yogurt Association (NYA) is creating a probiotics council - another signal the active cultures have achieved mainstream status in North America. NYA’s probiotic council will look to inform on industry standards and regulatory issues. The aim for its founders is for it to become the reference point for the probiotics industry in North America.
The concept of friendly bacteria has taken longer to catch on in the U.S. than in Europe, where it has long been a staple in the functional food market. However, thanks in large part to Danone’s Activia yogurt campaign, probiotics are making an increasing appearance in US dairy aisles and functional products beyond.
As such, yogurt manufacturers are feeling compelled to take an active role in probiotics and take part in any regulatory standards dialogue as it arises. While the specifics of the council have not been finalized, Martinez indicated it will draw primarily from industry food scientists who are members of NYA. However, the association does not want to limit dialogue to the yogurt industry.
On a global level, the International Probiotics Association (IPA), is looking to carry out a similar mandate. Founded in 2005, the Chicago-headquartered association wants to be become a network between researchers, academia and industry. IPA’s long term goal is to establish a certification program and third party testing based on standardized methodology surrounding probiotics.
Posted: September 10, 2007 at 5:37 pm
By News Editor
Dannon yogurt, owned by Groupe Danone, the world’s largest maker of dairy products, will now be included in Subway’s Fresh Fit sandwich menu. The addition of yogurt to the menu marks two wins for dairy at the restaurant - Subway also offers plastic single-serve low-fat milk.
The introduction, which features Dannon yogurt as part of Subway’s Fresh Fit low-fat sandwich menu, marks Dannon’s first “massive” nationwide expansion into U.S. restaurants, said Juan Carlos Dalto, chief executive of Dannon Co., the White Plains, N.Y.-based U.S. subsidiary of French dairy giant Group Danone Closely-held Subway is the largest fast food chain by the number of stores.
Dannon has introduced probiotic yogurt such as Activia, boosted marketing, and worked with retailers in an effort to make the U.S. — its No. 3 yogurt market after France and Spain — into its top market by sales.
The strong potential for yogurt sales in the U.S., where consumption trails far behind other developed European markets, has led Groupe Danone to label the U.S., the world’s largest consumer of packaged foods, as one of its so-called “frontier countries,” alongside Russia and China.
The U.S. consumes about 11 pounds of yogurt per person each year, whereas in mature markets like France, consumption is six or seven times more, Dannon said.
Subway, which has 26 million people going to its restaurants each week, picked Dannon over a number of other yogurt companies who had also expressed an interest in partnering with the company, said Tony Pace, who heads advertising and marketing for the closely held fast food chain. As of Aug. 23, Subway had 21,000 U.S. locations. Subway may also consider offering Dannon yogurt to its 6,000 locations in 83 countries outside of the U.S., Pace said.
Posted: August 14, 2007 at 6:47 pm
By News Editor
As Americans clamor for more convenient and healthy food options, yogurt is turning out to be one of their top choices.
Among packaged foods and snacks, only quick breakfast options, yogurt and a few types of snacks–mainly healthier options–increased their household penetration rates by one percentage point or more during the past few years, according to a new “On-the-Go Eating” study from the Packaged Facts division of MarketResearch.com.
On the yogurt front, Yoplait’s household penetration grew 1.4 points, to 19.8%. (Stonyfield Farm’s gain was just short of one percentage point, rising from 1.7% to 2.4%.)
Among snacks, most of the significant gainers were brands positioned as healthy choices. These included Nature Valley Bars (up nearly three percentage points, to 10.3%), the Power Bar (from zero to 2%) and Nabisco Fruit Snacks (zero to 1.6%). The rest of the big on-the-go packaged food brands were stagnant, or saw slight losses, in terms of household penetration.
Sales trends more or less mirror the penetration trends. PF’s analysis of IRI data for mass-market outlets (supermarkets, drug stores and mass merchandisers, excluding Wal-Mart) shows yogurt as the No.1 dollar gainer between 2005 and 2006: up $185 million (7.2%), to $2.8 billion. Dannon’s new Activa brand did much to boost the category (ringing up $126 million last year), as did all of Yoplait’s yogurt and yogurt drink selections (the brand’s Light Thick And Creamy and Light varieties saw sales increases of $34 million and $32 million, respectively, for example.)
Posted: June 29, 2007 at 7:23 pm
By News Editor
Now you can get your yogurt with a fizz - the General Mills’ Yoplait line has introduced a carbonated yogurt called Fizzix.
“The fizzy taste appeals to older children,” said Bob Waldron, president of the Yoplait division. Plus, it’s aimed to generate bigger profits for General Mills–or as Waldron told stock analysts, Fizzix will “sell at a higher price point than our 6-ounce cups.”
Posted: May 23, 2007 at 8:50 pm
By News Editor
Coming to TV in July, a new series with subtle advertising written right into the script. This time, it’s Yoplait yogurt, a General Mills product, that will be featured be orginal series, “She’s Moving In.”
The show features couples who have decided to live together and focuses on the design and core issues they face. The series is sponsored by General Mills and the network has created a customized campaign for the company’s Yoplait yogurt, which will be eaten by the women and the designers featured in episodes of the show.
Yoplait also will be featured in tune-in spots, on-air billboards and online banners and included in WE tv’s monthly newsletter.
“At WE tv we are constantly listening to our demographic to see what appeals to them, and ‘She’s Moving In’ really capitalizes on the interest that female TV viewers have in home-design programming,” said Kim Martin, executive VP/general manager for WE tv.
“Because … ‘She’s Moving In’ is an original series, it affords the network the opportunity to offer advertisers the chance to embed their branding messages within the programming,” said Arlene Manos, president of national network advertising sales for Rainbow Media, WE tv’s parent. “The commitment of General Mills to the network reinforces WE’s value of providing sponsorship packages that make sense for advertisers looking to target their brand to a wide-ranging audience of women.”
Posted: May 9, 2007 at 7:10 pm
By News Editor
Another probiotic product has been launched, a probiotic infant formula from Nestlé with probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis, BIFIDUS BL.
The Swiss food giant claims Good Start Natural Cultures is the first US infant formula to contain probiotics for immune system support. The company says the Bifidobacterium lactis in its formula helps children improve the balance of microflora in their gastrointestinal tract, thereby supporting a healthy immune system.
Nestle says bifidobacteriais are naturally found in the digestive tracts of breastfed infants. In formula-fed infants the presence of probiotic “friendly bacteria” is significantly lower than in breastfed infants.
“The inclusion of probiotics clearly goes a step further than providing basic nutrients for growth and development by adding a functional component which addresses an important objective of nutrition: supporting and modulating an infant’s immune system,” said José Saavedra, medical and scientific director with Nestlé Nutrition.
Posted: February 22, 2007 at 8:18 pm
By News Editor
Congratulations are in order for advertising agency, Ogilvy North America for being awarded the FAGE Dairy Industry account. FAGE is a premium dairy brand from Greece whose Total yogurt brand will soon be distributed in the U.S. I reported on the company’s U.S. site choice in a previous post.
Ogilvy was awarded FAGE’s fully integrated marketing account based on the agency’s proven success in building brands across multiple channels. Launched in the US in 1998, FAGE is planning a new marketing push behind its Total yogurt brand as it expands its distribution and commences US production over the next two years.
“Our goal is to make FAGE one of the world’s favorite brands and we are counting on Ogilvy’s expertise to help us build on our great heritage here in the US,” said Antonios Maridakis, from FAGE.
Ogilvy will utilize a broad array of marketing solutions on behalf of FAGE including, traditional advertising, customer relationship marketing, direct, interactive and activation.
Posted: February 14, 2007 at 6:27 pm
By News Editor
Another story about yogurt! I haven’t heard of FAGE USA, but according to their website, they can be found in 20,000 retail outlets in 18 countries throughout the world.
Greek dairy company FAGE USA will build its first and only yogurt plant in Johnstown, N.Y. The $70 million plant will utilize 31 million gallons of milk a year and create about 60 new jobs. Officials said they plan to have the plant up and running by the end of the year for a trial run. It will then be fully operational by 2008.
Posted: February 14, 2007 at 6:11 pm
By News Editor
We don’t always hear a lot about yogurt, but today news came from Dannon that they expect to double their yogurt sales in the next five years.
Dannon director Juan Carlos Dalto explained to the business media that, in order to reach the target, his company plans on doubling the manufacture of yogurt by 2010-2011 by firstly expanding its existing factories in Minster, Ohio and West Jordan, Utah. Dannon also hopes to increase sales of its probiotic product DanActive (known as Actimel in Europe) and has recently launched a reduced-sugar version of the hugely popular Activia yoghurt.
Posted: January 31, 2007 at 7:01 pm
By News Editor
Drinkable yogurt is popular among the younger set — I haven’t seen too many ‘older’ folks kicking back with a Go’gurt! But, drinkable yogurt is the fastest growing food category in the world - wow!
Annual sales of drinkable yogurt rose 18.4 percent to $7.76 billion from mid-2005 to mid-2006, according to a survey by market research company AC Nielsen Global Services. Drinkable yogurt taps into the trend of consumers looking to eat and drink healthy foods, but not having time to stop and sit when they do it.
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