Granola is making its way from the cereal aisle to the dairy section of the grocery store. Or at least that’s the case for this new yogurt-based snack. Recently, -Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) partnered with General Mills to help create YoBark, a yogurt-based snack designed to give families a tasty option and expand yogurt’s presence in the snacking category.
According to the checkoff company, DMI has been working with General Mills since 2021 and helped provide consumer insights on why “tweens” (ages 12-13) have decreased their yogurt consumption. In addition, the checkoff also provided new product concept development, assistance with package design and research and development support.
“Recognizing this trend, we partnered with General Mills and co-funded research to develop product concepts that would appeal to this demographic,” said Chris Urban, vice president of growth platforms and partnerships for DMI. “The lead concept that emerged from our collaboration was YoBark, which received the highest-ranking score in our concept evaluations.”
Urban said the product, which comes in a stand-up pouch in strawberry and honey vanilla flavors, delivers a nutritious snack that appeals to parents who are seeking options for their families beyond traditional snack foods.
“Our strategy targets families,” Urban said. “Moms often act as gatekeepers for household purchases, but it’s crucial that the product also appeals to their tweens. We found that YoBark meets the health standards moms want while offering a fun, snackable form that tweens enjoy. It’s also designed to be shareable, tapping into tweens’ social interactions.”
The new product combines the creaminess of yogurt with the crunchy texture of granola, offering a multi-sensory flavor experience to consumers. YoBark can be found in the refrigerated section at Albertson’s, Safeway and Walmart and will reach more retailers nationwide in the coming months.
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