Opportunity: Reducing Sugar without Compromising Taste
Many parents are growing increasingly concerned about the high sugar intake in their children’s diets, and for good reason. News Medical found that daily sugar intake in European children is up to three times more than the maximum recommended level. The NHS advises that children aged 4 to 6 should have no more than 19 grams of free sugars a day, those aged 7 to 10 should consume no more than 24 grams, and 11 and over should have no more than 30 grams. Unfortunately, when consumption exceeds these guidelines, the consequences include serious health issues such as obesity, tooth decay, and type 2 diabetes. This alarming reality underscores the urgent need to find healthier snack options for children.
Realising this health crisis, in 2018, Dairy Consumer Foods set out to reduce the sugar content in their beloved Yollies, the world’s first kids’ yogurt on a stick. The mission was clear: to create a healthier version of Yollies without compromising the flavour profile that young consumers adored. This posed a significant challenge, as maintaining the delightful taste while reducing sugar was crucial to ensure the product remained appealing to children.
Approach: Gradual and Stealthy Sugar Reduction
To tackle the challenge of reducing sugar in Yollies without compromising their beloved taste, Kerry Dairy Consumer Foods adopted a strategic, gradual approach. Rather than making drastic changes that might alter the product’s appeal, they implemented small, incremental sugar reductions over several years. From 2018 to 2023, the Yollies recipe underwent three strategic phases of sweetness adjustments. This careful, step-by-step process ensured that the changes were subtle enough to go unnoticed by young consumers, maintaining the delightful taste they adored.
The team focused on maintaining the high-quality ingredients and fun character pods that made Yollies appealing. By leveraging advanced food technology and continually seeking consumer feedback, the sweetness levels were fine-tuned while ensuring the nutritional value and overall enjoyment of the product remained uncompromised. This methodical approach allowed Dairy Consumer Foods to make significant progress in reducing sugar content while still delivering a product that met the expectations of both children and their parents.
Impact: Healthier Choices and Continued Consumer Loyalty
The gradual and strategic reduction of sugar in Yollies Strawberry and Yollies Rasberry products has yielded remarkable results, significantly benefiting children and satisfying parents. By 2023, Dairy Consumer Foods achieved a 33% reduction in sugar content, decreasing from 12.1g to 8.2g per serving. This reduction translates to the elimination of over 5.2 million teaspoons of sugar from the product, a substantial contribution to healthier dietary options for children.
Despite the reduced sugar content, Yollies has maintained its popularity among consumers, who continue to enjoy the product’s delightful taste. Parents, in particular, appreciate the healthier formulation that allows them to provide a nutritious and enjoyable snack for their children without compromising on flavour.
The Kerry Difference: Our commitment remains unwavering. We’ll keep exploring innovative ways to reduce sugar while maintaining the high quality and delightful taste our consumers expect. By blending technology and a consumer-centric mindset, we’ll create healthier options that never compromise on enjoyment.