dannon evolution freshStarbucks has just announced that it will be partnering with Dannon (actually, Danone, the parent company of Dannon) to launch a new line of healthy yogurt products called, “Evolution Fresh, Inspired by Dannon.”  I don’t usually just pass on links without have more information, but this one is intriguing!  Take a look:

The plan, as per the above article, is to introduce these new yogurts into the retail stores in 2014, and then into the CPG category in 2015.  This is a great example of how CPG is exploding!  Coincidentally, I just was writing about the variety of Starbucks-branded products at your local grocery store.  I suggested the idea of a new Starbucks CPG Passport.

Of course, the other very significant thing about this is that this will be co-branded with Evolution Fresh.  I wish I had a better idea of what that will really look like.  (As a reminder, there are four actual Evolution Fresh juice bars at this time.)

From the Starbucks official press release, Howard Schultz is quoted as follows:

“Starbucks is committed to evolving and enhancing our customer experience with innovative and wholesome food offerings. Today’s announcement underscores this commitment through the transformation of our existing yogurt offerings and our multi-year agreement with Danone,” said Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and chief executive officer. “We are energized by the strong customer response to Evolution FreshTM offerings, and believe a strategic agreement with Danone, the world leader in fresh dairy products, affords us the perfect opportunity to grow – and elevate – the Evolution Fresh brand both in our stores and in CPG channels.”

 So what do you think of this idea? Are you ready for a new Greek yogurt made in partnership with both Dannon and Evolution Fresh?

I want to try it! 🙂  My suggestion would be that Starbucks could probably refresh their smoothie lineup by adding in the option of a yogurt-based smoothie.  About one year ago (in Northern California), Starbucks did a very small test of yogurt-based smoothies.  I always thought that sounded like a great idea to be able to get a smoothie with yogurt in it. Maybe that could really be in the long-term future?  (Of course, I don’t really know.  I’m just having fun speculating.)