U.S. Dairy Checkoff Partners with General Mills on YoBark Snack Launch
Source: DairyNews.today
The U.S. Dairy Checkoff has teamed up with General Mills to launch YoBark, a yogurt-based snack aimed at broadening yogurt's presence in the competitive snacking market. The product combines the creamy texture of yogurt with the crunch of Nature Valley Granola, creating a multi-sensory treat for families.
Currently available at Albertson’s, Safeway, and Walmart, YoBark is set to roll out to additional retailers nationwide in the coming months.
Strategic Collaboration
The partnership, spearheaded by Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), began in 2021 with a focus on reversing a decline in yogurt consumption among tweens (ages 12-13). DMI contributed to product development by offering consumer insights, concept creation, package design, and research and development support.
“Recognizing the trend of declining yogurt consumption in this demographic, we collaborated with General Mills and co-funded research to design a product that resonates with tweens,” said Chris Urban, DMI’s vice president of growth platforms and partnerships.
According to Urban, YoBark emerged as the top concept from collaborative evaluations. Packaged in a stand-up pouch, it is available in strawberry and honey vanilla flavors, appealing to both health-conscious parents and snack-savvy tweens.
Meeting Market Needs
“Our strategy is family-focused,” Urban explained. “Moms, as household purchase gatekeepers, value nutritious snacks that meet health standards, while tweens are drawn to fun, snackable, and shareable formats. YoBark bridges these priorities effectively.”
The collaboration underscores the dairy industry’s efforts to innovate within the growing snacking category. By aligning with consumer trends and expanding yogurt’s appeal, the initiative aims to drive incremental growth for dairy-based products.
With nationwide availability on the horizon, YoBark is poised to make a strong impact in the U.S. snack market, addressing both nutritional demands and consumer preferences.
Strategic Collaboration
The partnership, spearheaded by Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), began in 2021 with a focus on reversing a decline in yogurt consumption among tweens (ages 12-13). DMI contributed to product development by offering consumer insights, concept creation, package design, and research and development support.
“Recognizing the trend of declining yogurt consumption in this demographic, we collaborated with General Mills and co-funded research to design a product that resonates with tweens,” said Chris Urban, DMI’s vice president of growth platforms and partnerships.
According to Urban, YoBark emerged as the top concept from collaborative evaluations. Packaged in a stand-up pouch, it is available in strawberry and honey vanilla flavors, appealing to both health-conscious parents and snack-savvy tweens.
Meeting Market Needs
“Our strategy is family-focused,” Urban explained. “Moms, as household purchase gatekeepers, value nutritious snacks that meet health standards, while tweens are drawn to fun, snackable, and shareable formats. YoBark bridges these priorities effectively.”
The collaboration underscores the dairy industry’s efforts to innovate within the growing snacking category. By aligning with consumer trends and expanding yogurt’s appeal, the initiative aims to drive incremental growth for dairy-based products.
With nationwide availability on the horizon, YoBark is poised to make a strong impact in the U.S. snack market, addressing both nutritional demands and consumer preferences.
