Following accusations made on social media sites Twitter and Facebook of US Yogurt company Dannon’s Oikos Greek Yoghurt screening an advertisement allegedly “plagiarizing” John Butler Trio’s 2003 single “Zebra”, John Butler Trio is now awaiting further legal advice over the matter. The yoghurt advertisement screened to 111.3 million viewers who were watching the Super Bowl in the US on February 5 2012 (6 February 2012 in Australia), that featured music that strongly resembled John... ...Read more »

Latest statistics published by Australian research survey company Roy Morgan suggest Australians are increasingly choosing natural yoghurt. However, fruit or flavoured yoghurt still remained the most popular amongst survey participants with 52 per cent of consumers eating fruit or flavoured yoghurt in a four week period. Drinking yoghurt or pro-biotic/cultured milk was being consumed by 9 per cent of consumers. The research was based on a survey undertaken by Roy Morgan of 18,483 Australian consumers... ...Read more »

One of the U.S.’s leading Greek yoghurt brands, Chobani, has launched its flavoured Greek yogurt range in Woolworths’ stores this week throughout New South Wales. In August 2011, Australian Food News reported Greek yogurt sales had increased in the U.S. by a staggering 2500 per cent in the last five years. The Chobani brand gained tremendous market share, growing from just 5 per cent in March 2008 to 48 per cent in March 2011. Chobani’s launch in Australia marks the first international expansion... ...Read more »

The latest offering in the organic yoghurt market, five:am, has launched with six new flavours and boasting a wholly natural manufacturing process, free of gluten, gelatin, preservatives, starches, artificial colours, flavours, stabilisers or sweeteners. Creator, surfer and long time yogi David Prior, said he was inspired to create a product that allowed him to have a clear ecological conscience during one of his early morning moments of clarity. “It’s just as much about what’s not in our food... ...Read more »

Agro Farma, the US company behind popular new yoghurt brand Chobani, has acquired Australia’s Bead Foods, maker of Gippsland Dairy and Rowena choc-tops. The deal, announced yesterday for an undisclosd sum, is a “major milestone” for Agro Farma, CEO and founder Hamdi Ulukaya said. “This acquisition marks a major milestone for Agro Farma as we expand our global reach into key international markets. And we couldn’t have picked a better partner to start with,” Ulukaya... ...Read more »

French dairy giant Danone, through its joint venture with dairy co-op Murray Goulburn, has announced the Australian launch of its popular yoghurt Activia. A leading global brand, Activia is sold in 68 countries, with more than 32 million 125g units of Activia consumed every day around the world. The yoghurt will be marketed largely to women, with a new advertising campaign citing commissioned research by Galaxy that “two out of three Australian women feel fat, lethargic and lack confidence... ...Read more »

Kirin-owned dairy and drinks giant, Lion Nathan National Foods, today announced its intention to rebrand its three divisions – Lion Nathan Australia, Lion Nathan New Zealand and National Foods – to a single new brand, Lion. All three will use the Lion brand, but the company said that to distinguish informally as required, National Foods will be known as Dairy and Drinks, while the Lion Nathan businesses will become Beer, Spirits and Wines, Australia, and Beer, Spirits and Wines, New Zealand. Lion... ...Read more »

Lion Nathan National Foods announced its results for the quarter ended 31 December 2010, with tough results across the board. Revenues for National Foods and Lion Nathan Australia were both down 11%, to $729.8 and $430.2 respectively. White milk volumes declined 11% for National Foods, and Lion Nathan’s 4% higher per-litre price was also knocked out by lower volumes. Only Lion Nathan New Zealand delivered increased revenue, up 9% at NZ$204.7 million. “Rising interest rates and power costs,... ...Read more »

Bright Dairy, one of China’s major dairy manufacturers, is to invest about CNY1.4bn (US$214.5m) to build a new plant in Shanghai.The plant, which will make fresh milk, UHT milk and yoghurt, is scheduled to start operation in 2013 and will be the largest dairy plant in Asia. With annual production capacity of about 600,000 tonnes, Bright expects it will add CNY4.64bn to its annual sales. “Our next target is to be the leader in the domestic fresh milk market and raise our share in the... ...Read more »

General Mills is reportedly set to buy the 50% stake held in dairy business Yoplait by private-equity firm PAI Partners. According to reports in Le Figaro, The Wall Street Journal and from the Bloomberg news agency, General Mills, which has held the US licence to Yoplait since 1977, is set to emerge as the winner in what had become a fiercely competitive race to buy PAI’s half of the French firm. The reports said a deal between General Mills and PAI values Yoplait at EUR1.6bn (US$2.24bn). Citing... ...Read more »