Danone reports a US yogurt sales surge among GLP-1 users

Danone, the world's largest yogurt maker, says demand for its Oikos and other yogurt brands has surged among US consumers taking GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy ^[1]. Rafael Acevedo, president of yogurt at Danone North America, told Food Dive the company does not see this as a passing trend. "We do believe that this is not a fad," he said. "This is a trend that is here to stay" ^[1].

According to Acevedo, yogurt consumption is nearly three times higher in US households where GLP-1 drugs are used, compared with households that do not use them ^[1]. Oikos, which markets itself on high protein content, saw retail sales jump 40% during 2024, based on Circana data supplied by Danone ^[1]. Too Good & Co, a low-sugar line, and Light & Fit, a protein-forward but more indulgent brand, also saw sales gains tied to GLP-1 users ^[1]. Danone estimates another 20% of US households are interested in starting the medications, and the company is responding with a website of nutrition guidance for GLP-1 users, healthcare partnerships, and expanded distribution of products like Oikos Pro Drinks and Shots ^[1].

The yogurt gains sit alongside a broader shift the food industry is tracking. A study from Cornell University and Numerator found households with at least one GLP-1 user cut overall grocery spending by about 6% within six months of starting the medication ^[1]. Savory snacks were hit hardest, with spending on chips, baked goods, sides, and cookies falling between 6.7% and 11.1% ^[1]. Separately, Hershey CEO Michele Buck described the impact on the company's candy business as "mild" as of a November earnings call, saying the company is "carefully monitoring" how consumer behavior evolves ^[1].

Other companies are also repositioning products around GLP-1 users. Nestlé launched a pre-meal drink under its Boost brand meant to suppress hunger, following an earlier 2024 launch of Vital Pursuit, its first major new US brand in nearly three decades, aimed at people managing their weight ^[1]. Conagra Brands began labeling more than two dozen Healthy Choice meals as "GLP-1 friendly," making it the first major food brand to reference the drugs directly on packaging ^[1].

It is worth noting that roughly 14% of US adults have taken a GLP-1 drug for weight loss or to manage conditions like diabetes, according to the figures cited in the report ^[1]. Danone did not publish the underlying panel methodology behind its sales and consumption claims, so it is not yet known how the company defined or verified "GLP-1 users" in its data, or how the comparison group of non-users was selected.

Why it matters for patients

For people taking semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound), reduced appetite often means eating less food overall, which can make it harder to get enough protein and other nutrients from smaller meals ^[1]. Danone's sales data suggests many patients are turning to portion-controlled, high-protein foods like yogurt to help meet those needs ^[1]. The Cornell/Numerator findings, showing sharp declines in snack food spending, indicate this shift extends well beyond yogurt into how entire households on these drugs are changing what they buy at the grocery store ^[1]. Patients may notice these same industry trends showing up as new product labels, marketing, or reformulated foods aimed at GLP-1 users, such as Conagra's labeled Healthy Choice meals or Nestlé's Vital Pursuit line ^[1].

What happens next

Danone said it is exploring further product innovation and expanding distribution of newer items like Oikos Pro Drinks and Shots to capture more of this demand ^[1]. With another fifth of US households reportedly considering starting a GLP-1 medication, according to Danone's estimate, food companies including Nestlé and Conagra are expected to continue adjusting marketing and labeling around these consumers, though none of the sources specify additional dated milestones ^[1].