Danone Acquires YoCrunch to Support Continued US Yogurt Growth

09 Aug 2013 --- Danone has announced that it has acquired 100% of YoCrunch’s share capital. Founded in 1985, YoCrunch makes yogurt with crunchy toppings packaged separately, in part through licensing agreements with well-known national brands such as M&Ms and Oreo.

With net sales of $110 million and sustained double-digit growth in recent years, the company is now the market leader of the yogurt with toppers segment.

This acquisition will advance Danone’s ambition to further develop yogurt consumption by notably expanding the various ways in which Americans can enjoy yogurt. It will strengthen its offer in the United States by widening its range of products. The move will also enable Danone to benefit from YoCrunch’s unique expertise in compartmentalized packaging, developed in the company’s plant in Naugatuck, Connecticut.

YoCrunch is the latest initiative by the French company to try and get a larger share of the rapidly growing U.S. yoghurt market.

Last month, Danone partnered with Starbucks to develop and sell Greek yogurt parfaits, which will be sold in Starbucks cafes next spring, then in supermarkets in 2015.