Yogurt blends
Dannon parent company buys U.S. yogurt maker YoCrunch
YoCrunch is known for the candy and cereal toppings in its yogurt snacks.
Danone, the parent company of U.S. dairy processor Dannon, announced today that it has acquired 100% of YoCrunch’s share capital. Dannon ranks 21st of the 2013 Dairy 100, Dairy Foods' annual ranking of the largest dairy processors in the United States and Canada. Dannon reported revenues of $1.8 billion for 2012. YoCrunch (listed as The YoFarm Co.) ranks 77th, with 2012 revenues of $155 million. Ron Fugate is president.
Dannon also owns a portion of the organic-dairy brand Stonyfield Farm.
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. Danone's press release called YoCrunch "the market leader of the yogurt with toppers segment."
According to Danone's statement, "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, Conn."
YoCrunch has one plant in Naugatuck and another in Batavia, N.Y.
Dannon, led by Gustavo Valle, is headquartered in White Plains, N.Y. It has plants in Minster, Ohio (yogurt); Fort Worth, Texas (yogurt), West Jordan, Utah (yogurt); and Portland, Ore. (frozen yogurt). Dannon acquired frozen yogurt maker YoCream in 2011.
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