Chobani Debuts Plant-Based Yogurt and Drink Line

Yogurt brand Chobani will roll out its first vegan line of yogurts and beverages at retailers nationwide this month. The new Non-Dairy Chobani line is made with organic, cultured coconut ingredients, fortified with probiotics, and contains 25 percent less sugar than other non-dairy alternatives. The line includes five flavors of single-serving cups of plant-based yogurt ($1.99 each): Blueberry, Peach, Slightly Sweet Plain, Strawberry, and Vanilla; and four drink flavors ($2.49 each): Mango, Slightly Sweet Plain, Strawberry, and Vanilla Chai. “We have a belief: if we can’t make something better, we don’t make it at all. And for some time, we’ve felt that people deserve better non-dairy options,” Chobani Founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya said. “We’ve come up with something that’s much better than what’s out there—a new recipe that’s absolutely delicious, but also meets our food philosophy of being nutritious, made with only natural ingredients, and at a price that’s accessible to all. Most importantly, this isn’t a replacement to dairy, but it’s a game-changer for plant-based products.” According to Niel Sandfort, Chobani VP Product Management & Innovation, the thick texture of the new yogurt line is achieved by using a coconut cream base. “We were aiming for our Non-Dairy Chobani recipe to have a good body but not as dense as Greek yogurt, which we achieve through separating, much like one would do in the old-world via cheesecloth straining,” Sandfort said. Chobani joins a growing number of previously dairy-focused companies that have introduced vegan options in recent months, including Danone which launched vegan line Good Plants under its Light & Fit brand and will offer a coconut-based version of its Oikos brand later this month.