Danone aims to introduce 10 products in 2017

French frozen yogurt chain Yogurt Factory has entered the Indian retail market in collaboration with FranGlobal, the international business arm of Franchise India. The partnership aims to introduce the brand’s low-fat frozen desserts and broader menu offerings to a growing base of health-conscious Indian consumers.

Founded in 2011 by Ouriel Hodara and Emmanuel Tedesco, both alumni of HEC Paris, Yogurt Factory began with a single outlet in Paris and has grown to more than 85 locations across ten countries, including France, Belgium, Spain, Morocco, and Malaysia. The brand’s Indian expansion marks a significant step in its global growth strategy.

Gaurav Marya, Chairman of Franchise India Group, said, “As Indian consumers increasingly seek mindful indulgence, Yogurt Factory is the perfect brand that blends wellness with joy. With 0 percent fat, unlimited toppings, and a cheeky, fun format—it’s the dessert of the future. At FranGlobal, we’re proud to launch a brand that speaks to both foodies and franchisees alike.”

The Indian operations will feature Yogurt Factory’s core offering of zero percent fat frozen yogurt, which customers can personalize with unlimited toppings at a fixed price. Options include a mix of fresh fruits, cereals, sauces, brownies, cookies, and global brands such as Oreo, Kinder, and Speculoos.

In addition to frozen yogurt, the brand’s Indian menu will include:

• Smoothies made with fresh fruit combinations
• Thick milkshakes in various flavors
• Liège and bubble waffles with customizable toppings
• Bubble teas and iced teas
• Freshly pressed juices

FranGlobal is targeting entrepreneurs with investment options between Rs 30 lakh to Rs 60 lakh, offering multiple store formats from kiosks to flagship outlets. The franchise model includes full support in areas such as location selection, store design, training, marketing, and ongoing operations.

The first Yogurt Factory location in India is scheduled to open later this year, with plans to expand across major metropolitan cities and high-footfall mall locations.

Danone North America has added a new range of Oatmilk Yogurt Alternatives to its So Delicious Dairy Free portfolio in the US.

The new line of product is available in four flavours, including triple berry, spiced pear and fig, strawberry rhubarb, and sweet mango. It is created using gluten-free oats, along with live and active cultures. Each of the variants is dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, certified vegan, certified gluten-free and Non-GMO Project verified.

Joshua Cook, Brand Manager of plant-based yogurt for So Delicious Dairy Free, said, “We couldn’t be more excited to expand our portfolio and bring Oatmilk Yogurt Alternatives to consumers from coast to coast.”

“Oat milk’s creamy texture is the perfect base for a yogurt alternative, and each of our artisanal flavours has been thoughtfully chosen to excite taste buds. The new Oatmilk Yogurt Alternatives are perfect for a morning breakfast, an on-the-go snack or as an ingredient in other delicious dairy-free delights,” he further stated.

Danone’s So Delicious Dairy Free portfolio comprises of a range of dairy-free creamers, yogurts, frozen desserts and beverages. So Delicious Dairy Free was acquired by Danone in 2016 as part of its $12.5 billion takeover of WhiteWave Foods.

Hyderabad-based Heritage Foods Limited (HFL) said it is in the process of entering into a Joint Venture (JV) with an European dairy firm for manufacturing and marketing yogurt in India.

Brahmani Nara, Executive Director, Heritage Foods also said the company aims to achieve $1 billion in the next five years from now.

Brahmani said, "Being the leading player in curd segment, the company is going to launch varied products in Yogurt market, by tying up with its international partner. In continuation to this, the company is going to launch new products very soon in beverages segment. This will further strengthen the current large portfolio of value added products. The negotiations are in the final stage with an European company and will be finalised in a month."

The company (Heritage) with footprints in 15 states has plans to enter newer markets soon. It also has plans to set up five milk processing units across the country with an investment outlay of Rs 150 crore, she further said.

She said, "Staying true to the company's mission to reach Rs 6000 crore or $ one billion in revenues by 2022, the company along with its core business vertical of milk also aims to further enhance the contribution of value-added products from current 24 per cent to 40 per cent in the next five years. Heritage had already made inroads into western markets like Pune and Mumbai besides Northern market. The management is confident of achieving these numbers by both organic and inorganic growth."

As a part of inorganic expansion, the company had recently acquired dairy business of Reliance Retail making Heritage Foods a pan India player.