YOCREAM to supply Dannon customers.

Dannon, once one of the leaders in the U.S. frozen yogurt market, has formed an alliance with YOCREAM International which will have YOCREAM supply soft frozen yogurt to Dannon's foodservice customers. A Dannon representative told Ice Cream Reporter that the company will have ceased its own soft frozen yogurt production by the end of this month. Dannon had withdrawn from the hard frozen yogurt category in early 1998. In a prepared statement, Jim Blakely, Vice President, Sales for Dannon, said, "The alliance is consistent with Dannon's concentration on refrigerated yogurt and the development and delivery of new innovative products for our customers. Dannon has agreed to endorse YOCREAM International and is pleased that YOCREAM will provide focus and expertise to the product category to meet the needs of our customers and consumers."

Tyler Bargas, YOCREAM's Director of Sales & Marketing, added, "Dannon's focus is refrigerated yogurt, ours is frozen yogurt. We can bring Dannon's customers more than forty flavors of soft serve frozen yogurt, along with an array of blender and dispenser smoothies."

The deal represents another big step forward for YOCREAM. The Portland, OR-based frozen yogurt manufacturer and marketer has experienced significant growth over the last few years, striking several major distribution agreements, and expanding its product line to include smoothies, ice cream, and frozen custard for both foodservice and retail sales. The company, founded in 1977, changed its name from International Yogurt in June 1999, adapting the name of signature brand instead.

The Tarrytown, NY-based Dannon is the leading national producer of yogurt products. With plants in Minster, OH, Fort Worth, TX, and West Jordan, UT, Dannon produces about three million cups of yogurt each day in nearly 100 flavors, styles, and sizes. Dannon is a subsidiary of the French company Groupe Danone, reported to be the largest dairy concern in the world.