Iconic children’s yogurt brand Danimals is entering a new chapter with a refreshed looked, better-for-you reformulation and a bigger focus on nutrition education at a time when consumers increasingly want more nutrient-dense, convenient options.
Speaking at parent company Danone’s long-time farm partner MVP Dairy in Ohio, Anne Laraway, Danone’s Head of Kids Brands at Danone North America, said the changes were driven by what caregivers say they need the most: convenience, transparency and nutrition they can feel good about serving their children.
Laraway also used the event to highlight the connection between the dairy supply chain, ingredient quality and children’s nutrition, illustrating how food and beverage brands can leverage supplier partnerships to reinforce nutrition credentials and build consumer trust.
Reformulation balances nutrition, convenience and fun
Danone reformulated and redesigned Danimals to balance caregivers and children’s needs for a convenient snack that is more nutritious without compromising the fun and flavor that kids love about the brand, according to Laraway.
She explained that parents today are bombarded with nutrition information that they don’t always understand, but they want high-quality, nutrient dense foods that will fuel their children’s bodies and brains.
They also want products their kids will consume, she said, recognizing that in today’s economy, consumers cannot afford to buy food that their families won’t eat.
“We hear that parents are always looking at labels, and they are expecting more from the food that they spend money on. So, they are looking for stacked benefits, whether it is protein on top of probiotics or calcium on top of vitamin D,” Laraway said.
These insights helped shape Danimals’ latest reformulation.
According to Danone, Danimals’ smoothies now contain 25% less total sugar than the prior smoothie recipe and is free from artificial flavors, colors and high-fructose corn syrup. With the addition of 3 grams of fiber – or about 10% of the recommended daily allowance of fiber – Danimals now qualify as a “good source” for the nutrient. It also is a good source of vitamin D and calcium.
“These are the types of benefits that start with science,” Laraway said. “At Danone, we devote resources and time to each one of these different touch points. And we work with pediatricians, nutritionists, dietitians to create our products that meet the needs of families today.”
High nutrition starts at the farm
Laraway added the nutritional benefits Danone’s products deliver begins at the farm.
“Farmer care, soil and quality behind the milk that is in our beloved products really, really matters,” she said, adding that ingredient nutritional quality is “impacted by the soil and food system in total.”
MVP Dairy, which provides Non-GMO Project Verified milk exclusively to Danone, follows regenerative practices, including no till farming, planting cover crops, precision irrigation, grid soil-sampling and buffer strips. It also is Validus-certified for animal welfare, worker care, environmental responsibility and on-farm security.
By following best management practices in soil health and animal selection and welfare, its cows provide higher yields than the national average, according to the dairy’s website, which says this is a “great indication we are doing things right.”
Strengthening nutrition awareness
Beyond the recipe update, Danimals is expanding its role from snack brand to nutrition resource through its new “Let Them Be Giant” Summer Pledge.
The collaboration includes an exclusive “Building Blocks of Nutrition” Magna-Tiles set designed to help families learn how nutrients like calcium, vitamin D and fiber support growing bodies.
“It is really about setting up growth and development through food for your kids for the summer months,” Laraway said.
For Danimals, this refresh and the ‘Let Them Be Giant’ initiative reinforces the brand’s relevance with today’s nutrition-conscious caregivers. For the broader food and beverage industry, it offers a case study in how reformulation, expert partnerships and greater visibility into the supply chain can work together to strengthen brand credibility and consumer trust.
