Dannon Doubles Down On Probiotic Fresh Dairy Foods With Functional Benefits
White Plains, NY - The Dannon Company, Inc. recently announced the expansion of its portfolio of probiotic fresh dairy foods with functional benefits in addition to great taste and basic nutrition. The three products to be introduced during 2007 - DanActive dairy drink, Danimals with LGG drinks and lowfat yogurt, and Activia Light nonfat yogurt - are part of Dannon's growing portfolio of high health brands that deliver added probiotic benefits to consumers who enjoy them.
"The successful launch of Activia in the United States proved to us that Americans are looking for healthier food choices with clinically proven, peer-reviewed functional benefits without sacrificing great taste," said Juan Carlos Dalto, CEO, The Dannon Company. "The nationwide launch of DanActive and Activia Light, as well as the reformulation of Danimals with LGG, takes Dannon's commitment to high health several steps forward by offering a wider range of great tasting, probiotic fresh dairy products clinically proven to benefit specific natural functions of a healthy body. Furthermore, we believe that these ‘better for you products' are convincing more people to eat cultured fresh dairy products on a regular basis and enjoy their nutritional benefits."
Dannon has achieved tremendous success with its first national introduction of a probiotic lowfat yogurt in the U.S., Activia. Activia contains a unique probiotic culture, Bifidus Regularis™, which is clinically proven to help regulate the digestive system when eaten daily for two weeks. Since its launch in January 2006, Activia has surpassed $100 million in retail grocery sales in the U.S., a feat less than one tenth of one percent of all new products achieve in their first year in the U.S.
Probiotics, meaning "for life," are living microorganisms, usually lactic acid bacteria, that, when consumed in sufficient numbers, can provide health benefits that go beyond basic nutrition. The benefits of probiotics are due, in large part, to the effects of these so-called "friendly" bacteria on different intestinal functions and are strain specific. Depending on the specific strain of probiotic culture in each product, benefits associated with immune function, gastrointestinal function and oral health can be enjoyed. Estimated at $10 billion, the global probiotics yogurts and dairy drinks market is poised to continue its growth, driven by an increasing number of choices, such as Activia, DanActive and Danimals with LGG.
Nationwide launch of DanActive – Strengthening the Body's Defenses
Launching nationwide in January 2007, DanActive is a cultured probiotic dairy drink that has been clinically proven to help naturally strengthen the body's defenses when consumed daily. Previously available only in select test markets across the U.S., DanActive contains the proprietary probiotic L. casei Immunitas™ culture, clinically proven to work in the digestive track where 70 percent of a person's immune system is located. With more than 6 million bottles consumed daily around the world, DanActive was first introduced in Europe in 1994 and later Asia under the brand name Actimel.1
Reformulation of Danimals – Helping Kids Stay Healthy as Part of a Balanced Diet and Healthy Lifestyle
Dannon is adding the world's most researched probiotic culture for children, Lactobacillus GG (LGG™), to its existing Danimals line of lowfat yogurt cups and drinks made for kids. Starting in January 2007, Danimals Drinks and Danimals XL™ varieties contain "Only the Good Stuff,"™ no artificial colors, no artificial flavors and no high fructose corn syrup, and will include LGG, which has been clinically proven to have positive effects on gastrointestinal function, the function of the immune system and the maintenance of oral health. In addition, Danimals Cups already have 25 percent less added sugar in each serving, and, during Spring 2007, will be reformulated as Danimals Cups with LGG.2
Introduction of Activia Light – Fat-Free, Reduced Calorie, Helps Naturally Regulate Your Digestive System
Building on the success of Activia in 2006, Dannon is extending the success of Activia with the launch of Activia Light, a fat-free, reduced calorie version of the probiotic yogurt, in early 2007. Activia is a first-of-its-kind probiotic yogurt that is clinically proven to naturally regulate the digestive system by helping with slow intestinal transit, when eaten daily for two weeks.3
SOURCE: The Dannon Company, Inc.