Yop
Yop is a drinkable yogurt brand produced by the French dairy company Yoplait, introduced in 1974 as the world's first drinking yogurt.[1] This semi-liquid product features a smooth, pourable consistency designed for convenient, on-the-go consumption in portable bottles, typically available in 200 ml sizes.[2] It is formulated as a low-fat yogurt option, often at 1% or 2% milk fat, providing a source of calcium and vitamin D while incorporating live active cultures.[3] Originating from France, where Yoplait was founded in 1965 by a consortium of dairy cooperatives, Yop quickly became a celebrated innovation in the yogurt category, expanding to markets including Canada, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.[1][4] The brand offers a range of flavors such as strawberry, vanilla, strawberry-banana, tropical, and peach, with varieties including no added sugar options to cater to diverse consumer preferences.[5][6] Yop has maintained its popularity through partnerships, such as its 2020 designation as an official NBA partner in France, and innovations like the introduction of recyclable PET bottles with 35% recycled content in 2025.[4][7]Overview
Product Description
Yop is a semi-liquid drinkable yogurt produced by Yoplait, characterized by its smooth texture and portable bottle format designed for convenient consumption on the go. This format allows consumers to enjoy a yogurt-based beverage without the need for utensils, making it suitable for busy lifestyles and active routines.[8] The product primarily targets teenagers and young adults seeking fun, convenient dairy snacks that provide a quick energy boost. Marketed to this demographic, Yop emphasizes its role as an accessible and enjoyable option for those with demanding schedules, such as students or young professionals.[9][10][11] Yop features a blend of yogurt and fruit flavors, positioning it as a nutritious dairy alternative with natural flavors, no added colors, and no artificial additives. It serves as a good source of calcium and vitamin D, supporting bone health and overall wellness in a low-fat profile.[8][12] Manufactured by Yoplait, a brand with roots in French dairy innovation, Yop is produced in Canada under the ownership of Sodiaal, a French dairy cooperative that acquired the Canadian operations in early 2025. This ties the product to a legacy of yogurt expertise while adapting to North American markets.[13]Available Flavors
Yop is available in a wide array of flavors designed to appeal to diverse consumer preferences, with offerings varying by region to reflect local tastes and market demands. The standard lineup encompasses fruit-inspired varieties such as banana, blueberry, lemon, mango, peach, raspberry, red fruits, strawberry, strawberry-banana, and tropical, alongside non-fruit options including chocolate, coconut, vanilla, and an energy variant blending peach, pineapple, and cereal elements.[14][15][16][17][18] Fruit-based flavors typically incorporate natural fruit purees or pulps to deliver an authentic, fresh taste, as seen in varieties like lemon, which uses lemon pulp for tanginess, and strawberry-banana, which relies on fruit-derived elements for its blended profile.[19] In contrast, non-fruit flavors such as chocolate and vanilla primarily employ natural flavorings derived from cocoa paste or vanilla extracts, combined with milk components to maintain the drinkable yogurt's creamy consistency.[17] Regional variations highlight Yop's adaptability, with the energy flavor—featuring a unique peach, pineapple, and cereal infusion—gaining prominence in European markets for its energizing appeal.[18] Conversely, tropical flavors are more prevalent in North American offerings, often emphasizing vibrant, exotic fruit notes suited to those regions.[14][20] Over time, Yop has evolved its flavor portfolio through limited-edition and seasonal releases, including post-2021 innovations like manga-inspired Japanese flavors in 2024 and banana-kiwi blends, which introduce temporary twists on the classic formula to engage consumers. In 2025, a new Lychee Peach flavor was introduced in Canada.[21][22][23]History
Origins and Development
Yoplait, a French dairy cooperative founded in 1965, invented Yop in 1974 as the world's first drinkable yogurt, marking a significant extension of traditional spoonable yogurt products.[1][24] This innovation emerged from observations of consumer trends, particularly the desire for convenient, on-the-go consumption among adolescents and young adults, transforming yogurt from a sit-down snack into a portable beverage.[25][26] The development of Yop focused on achieving a semi-liquid texture suitable for drinking, achieved through blending fermented yogurt with stabilizers to ensure a smooth, pourable consistency that maintained the product's probiotic benefits while differentiating it from thicker, spoonable varieties.[27] Early research and development efforts at Yoplait's facilities emphasized portability, with the product packaged in bottles for easy consumption outside traditional meal times, appealing to a youthful demographic seeking quick, fun options.[28] Formulations for Yop involved the basic process of fermenting partly skimmed milk with live cultures, followed by the addition of fruit purees and natural flavors to enhance drinkability and taste, creating a lighter alternative to conventional yogurts without compromising nutritional integrity.[29][30] This approach revolutionized the fresh dairy market by introducing a new category of yogurt products, prioritizing ease of use and sensory appeal in its initial creation.Global Launch and Expansion
Yop was first launched in France in 1974 by Yoplait, introducing the world's inaugural drinkable yogurt as a convenient, semi-liquid alternative to traditional yogurt.[1][29] The product rapidly achieved commercial success in its domestic market, capitalizing on consumer demand for portable dairy snacks and establishing Yoplait's reputation for innovation in the yogurt category.[29] Building on this momentum, Yop expanded internationally in the subsequent decades, entering key European markets such as Belgium, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Spain, where it was distributed through supermarkets and convenience stores.[29] Canada became the brand's initial North American foothold, with Yop marketed as a pioneering on-the-go yogurt option and achieving strong early adoption among consumers seeking quick, nutritious beverages.[29] In non-core regions like the United States, availability remained sporadic and limited, hindered by intense competition from established local dairy brands and a saturated market for yogurt drinks.[29] To adapt to regional preferences, Yop underwent branding variations; for instance, in Sweden and Norway, the equivalent Yoplait smoothie product was rebranded as Safari to resonate with local tastes and appeal to younger demographics through themed packaging featuring jungle motifs.[31][32] Overall, Yop's growth in Europe demonstrated robust sales performance, with the brand contributing to Yoplait's presence in nearly 70 countries by the early 2010s, though penetration outside primary markets proved challenging due to varying consumer habits and regulatory differences in dairy imports.[1] In recent years, Yoplait's ownership changes have supported sustained operations and potential for further expansion; Sodiaal, the French dairy cooperative, assumed full control of the brand in 2021, followed by its acquisition of Yoplait's Canadian operations, announced in 2024 and completed in January 2025, to bolster North American distribution.[33][34] No major new market entries or reformulations for Yop, such as plant-based variants, were reported through 2025, with focus remaining on core dairy formulations amid evolving trends in the sector.Production and Composition
Ingredients
Yop is primarily composed of dairy-based ingredients that form its yogurt foundation, with variations depending on the flavor. The core base includes partly skimmed milk, which serves as the primary source of protein and creaminess while being fortified with vitamin D3 to enhance nutritional value.[8] Water is added to achieve the product's signature drinkable consistency, diluting the yogurt for easy consumption.[30] Sugar provides sweetness, balancing the tartness from the bacterial cultures, while milk protein boosts the texture and protein content without adding fat.[8] Bacterial cultures ferment the milk to produce the yogurt's tangy flavor and probiotic properties.[35] For standard fruit variants like strawberry or banana, natural flavors are used to provide taste without artificial additives; for non-fruit options like vanilla or chocolate, these are derived from vanilla extract or cocoa, ensuring a smooth, consistent profile.[30] In no-added-sugar variants, such as strawberry-banana, the formulation includes whole and skim milk (fortified with vitamin D3), water, strawberry puree, banana puree, natural flavor, corn starch, lemon juice concentrate, lactase enzyme (to reduce lactose for better digestibility), and bacterial cultures. These are sweetened naturally from fruit, without added sugars or stevia.[36] All Yop products are dairy-based, containing milk allergens, with no soy, nuts, or gluten in standard recipes.[30] Formulations may vary slightly by region or specific product line.[36]Nutritional Profile
Yop provides a balanced nutritional profile typical of drinkable yogurts, offering key macronutrients and micronutrients derived from milk and fortification, with an average serving size of 200 ml delivering moderate energy while contributing to daily intakes of protein, calcium, and vitamin D.[30] The average nutritional composition per 200 ml serving, based on strawberry flavor as a representative example, includes approximately 544 kJ (130 kcal) of energy, 6 g of protein, 2 g of total fat (of which 1 g is saturated, representing 3% and 6% of daily values respectively), 21 g of carbohydrates (primarily 19 g of sugars, accounting for 19% of daily value), 0 g of fiber, and 65 mg of sodium (3% of daily value). Micronutrients feature 200 mg of calcium (15% of daily value) and 3 µg of vitamin D (15% of daily value), with no significant iron content. Potassium stands at 250 mg (5% of daily value), and cholesterol at 10 mg.[30]| Nutrient | Amount per 200 ml | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 544 kJ / 130 kcal | - |
| Protein | 6 g | - |
| Total Fat | 2 g | 3% |
| Saturated Fat | 1 g | 6% |
| Carbohydrates | 21 g | - |
| Sugars | 19 g | 19% |
| Fiber | 0 g | 0% |
| Sodium | 65 mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 200 mg | 15% |
| Vitamin D | 3 µg | 15% |
| Potassium | 250 mg | 5% |