United in yogurt.

Europe and the US love Greek yogurt.

In 2013, the US measured a per capita consumption of yogurt that was about half that of Europe – and counting. This should be an interesting market for the food industry and the ideal time to more closely investigate the differences between European and American palates, particularly when it comes to Greek yogurt.

In the US, a growing body-consciousness is currently at the core of the nation’s interest: Americans prefer low-fat or fat-free yogurt varieties. According to a study called Agreement with Yogurt from June 2013, 35% of survey participants listed those attributes as their essential selection criteria, followed by the desire to have a wider range of dairy products to choose from – for example yogurts with added fiber and vitamins. The Mintel Report on Yogurt and Yogurt Drinks sees a great opportunity to combine Greek yogurt and grains as well as produce snacks that are richer in texture and content, for adults and for children, as well as a variety of cooking options.

Compared to American consumers, Europeans are used to being presented with new – and very fresh – innovative dairy products on a regular basis. And even if “low fat” is high on a European consumer’s priority list for Greek yogurt, „naturalness“, a „creamy texture“ and „indulgent flavors” are just as important. Interestingly, the top 4 essential attributes for the newly released Greek yogurts in Europe are:

1. Fat-free or low/reduced fat content 
2. no additives
3. organic
4. environmentally friendly packaging

 

 

AGRANA Fruit is currently offering over 200 different Greek yogurt products and alongside potential expansion in the fruity varieties (strawberry, apricot, mango, blueberry, cherry), exciting opportunities with more savory options (cucumber-garlic, tomato-basil, bell pepper-herbs) as well as seductive dessert dishes like chocolate, honey or walnut are on the horizon. > Featured link: Agrana product finder