In today’s time, alternative foods are becoming more and more appealing due to dietary restrictions and preferences. Whether it’s lactose intolerance or environmental impact, alternative milk has boomed in popularity, thereby creating a need in the sector for plant-based dairy products. AYO Almondmilk Yogurt is no stranger to this demand, as it recently witnessed almost 400 percent growth in the yogurt category.
“It’s so reaffirming to create something you love and stand behind, and see consumers respond to it so positively,” said AYO Almondmilk Yogurt Founder and third-generation organic almond farmer Matt Billings. “We believe in the power of the almond as the perfect base and are proud that it’s not just healthy but tasty too.”
AYO Almondmilk Yogurt first came onto the all-natural yogurt scene in 2019. Each cup of yogurt contains 20 organic, home-grown almonds from the Billings Ranches to make a vegan, nutrient-dense, probiotic-rich yogurt that is truly “farm to spoon.” Since its inception, it appears consumers couldn’t get enough; the almond milk yogurt company is setting a pace in sales that have far exceeded expectations.
According to the release, AYO is growing 80 percent within the channel. In the conventional supermarket channel, AYO is at almost 400 percent growth in the yogurt category.
Each mature organic almond tree on the Billings Ranches can yield enough nuts for up to 300 cups of AYO yogurt. The process is carefully attended to, and a high-quality yogurt is the result. Farmers harvest the nuts and then separate the almonds from their outer hull and shell. With sustainability and reusability top of mind, the farmers recycle the outer layer as cattle bedding, dairy feed, and compost.
Once cleaned, the nuts are sorted, sized, and sent on their way to a local almond butter processing facility within a mile of the ranch, where almonds are blanched in boiling water, then roasted to achieve the full-bodied toasted flavor; then using organic processing equipment, they’re ground into almond butter. This “almond base” is the pure nut butter used to make AYO—no filtering, nothing artificial.
Then, the yogurt is flavored and enlivened with seasonally sourced organic strawberries, blueberries, peaches, and organic Madagascar Vanilla. The process yields creamy, rich yogurt that the consumer can enjoy with every bite.
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