Yogurt brands scrambling to stop sliding U.S. sales

What's eating yogurt?

Despite shelves full of new varieties--from Icelandic to Australian to coconut-based--U.S. yogurt sales are in a multiyear slump. Yogurt companies are confident that more new products can boost sales. But some analysts are skeptical, saying larger trends--like growing sales of protein bars--will be hard to turn around.

"Consumers are just not eating as much yogurt as they once did," said Caleb Bryant, associate director of food and drink reports for Mintel, a market research company.

U.S. sales of yogurt and yogurt drinks peaked at nearly $9 billion in 2015. In 2019, they're expected to hit $8.2 billion, down 3.6% from 2018, Mintel says. They're expected to fall another 10% to $7.4 billion by 2024.

Chobani--the second-biggest yogurt maker by U.S. market share--thinks innovation can halt that slide. On Monday, the company introduced its first oat-based yogurts, capitalizing on booming sales of oat milk and consumer interest in plant-based eating. The move follows market leader Danone's introduction last July of oat-based yogurts under its So Delicious brand.

"If we stay close to the consumer and continue to give them the food they want from a trend perspective and a health perspective, yogurt continues to grow," Chobani president Peter McGuinness said.

But for the first time, Chobani is also moving into non-yogurt products. In January, it's launching four flavours of oat drinks as well as dairy-based coffee creamers. It's an acknowledgment of market realities: coffee creamer and oat milk sales are climbing even as other dairy products--including Greek yogurt and soy milk-- struggle.

Health and animal welfare concerns are driving some Americans away from dairy altogether. Last week, the nation's largest milk processor, Dean Foods, filed for bankruptcy protection, citing a decades-long decline in U.S. milk consumption.

McGuinness insists the move isn't a defensive one, and that Chobani is still bullish on yogurt. The company felt coffee creamers were a good fit since cream is a byproduct of yogurt manufacturing, he said. And the company is convinced that plant-based eating is a trend with staying power.

Chobani, which is privately held, says its dollar sales are up 9% so far this year thanks to the introduction of lower-sugar and coconut-based yogurts.

McGuinness said Chobani planned to enter other market categories, too. The company opened a 70,000-square-foot innovation centre in Twin Falls, Idaho, earlier this year and has hired additional research and development staff.

Bryant agreed innovation was important, but he said yogurt companies were just taking share from each other since overall sales aren't growing.

He predicted yogurt sales would continue to fall because U.S. consumers are eating breakfast on the go and aren't making time for spoonable yogurt. They have new options, like nutrition shakes and protein bars, and many aren't keen on dairy products.

"It's not one major factor. These little things are chipping away at the market," he said.

A re cent Mintel survey revealed 30% of people who bought yogurt in the past three months said they were also buying high-protein foods or probiotic foods instead of yogurt. Meanwhile, 18% said they were overwhelmed by the number of yogurts and yogurt drinks on the market. The average grocery store has more than 300 separate yogurt products, a 4% increase from 2015, said marketing firm Acosta.

McGuinness acknowledged consumers are overwhelmed. He said Chobani frequently prunes its offerings and removes poor sellers.

Bryant said the market would only grow if yogurt makers attracted new consumers and convinceed them to eat yogurt for different occasions, like snacks or dinner. Yogurt treats for kids, for instance, have helped bring in new buyers, he said.

Yogurts designed for specific diets might also attract consumers, Bryant said. After years of declining yogurt sales, General Mills helped stabilize its market share this year with its YQ-brand high protein yogurt.