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Colombo Yogurt - First U.S. Yogurt Brand - Celebrates 75 Years

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  • Colombo Yogurt - First U.S. Yogurt Brand - Celebrates 75 Years

    Business wire
    May 13 2004

    Colombo Yogurt - First U.S. Yogurt Brand - Celebrates 75 Years;
    Colombo Takes Yogurt from a Small Kitchen in Andover, Mass., to
    Kitchens across America

    MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 2004--Just a glance at the
    yogurt case in any grocery store and it's easy to see how significant
    the business of yogurt has become in America. As Colombo Yogurt
    celebrates its 75th anniversary this month, Colombo also celebrates
    75 years since the introduction of yogurt to America.


    Although yogurt had been enjoyed for centuries in the Middle East, it
    made its American debut through an immigrant family business on a
    small Massachusetts farm in 1929. In the years since, yogurt has
    since become a staple in households nationwide. In fact, according to
    a recent survey conducted by Colombo Yogurt, nearly three in four
    American adults eats yogurt at least once per week.

    The introduction of Colombo Yogurt in 1929 gave Americans their first
    taste of yogurt and 75 years later, the popularity of yogurt
    continues to grow. In the last three years alone, the yogurt category
    has grown 31 percent(1) and in 2003, 72 percent of households
    purchased yogurt(2).

    "In the last few years people have been discovering that yogurt isn't
    just a breakfast food or a snack, it's a versatile ingredient that
    can take a leading or supporting roll in any meal -- any time of
    day," said TV celebrity chef and James Beard Award-winning cookbook
    author Alton Brown.

    The $2.7 billion(3) American yogurt industry started over a
    wood-burning stove at the Andover home of Rose and Sarkis
    Colombosian. Soon, as Colombo & Sons Creamery, the Colombosians along
    with sons Bob and John were hand-filling Rose's Armenian family
    recipe into 8-ounce glass jars and distributing their product
    throughout the Northeast in a horse-drawn wagon.

    Remaining relatively small until the early 1960s when the health
    benefits of yogurt gained a larger following, Colombo & Sons grew
    from a family business to a leader in the yogurt industry. Modern
    machinery replaced the old wood stove, and a fleet of refrigerated
    trucks replaced the horse-drawn wagon. Though changes were made, what
    has not changed in 75 years is Colombo Yogurt's quality, delicious
    flavor assortment and 8-ounce serving size.

    "For 75 years our loyal customers have confidently shared Colombo
    Yogurt with future generations because it has stayed true to its
    original quality even when we added new varieties," said Bob
    Colombosian, member of Colombo's founding family. "I wish my parents
    were still around to see the incredible growth of Colombo Yogurt and
    what we have achieved in 75 years - I know they would be proud."

    Purchased by General Mills in 1993, Colombo continues to be a leader
    in the American yogurt industry.

    "We have the utmost respect for the Colombosian family and the rich
    heritage of Colombo Yogurt," said Doug Pritchard, marketing manager
    for Colombo Yogurt at General Mills. "Starting in 1929, Colombo set
    the standard for what consumers expect from American yogurt and we're
    pleased to mark this exciting milestone to celebrate how far Colombo
    has come and what it means to the families that enjoy it."

    Today, Colombo Yogurt comes in two varieties, Colombo Classic and
    Colombo Light, a wide range of flavors, and two packaging
    configurations, the most popular of which is Colombo's original
    8-ounce container. The recent survey commissioned by Colombo about
    yogurt preferences confirmed that the majority of yogurt-buying
    consumers prefer Colombo's 8-ounce serving size rather than the
    6-ounce size produced by most yogurt manufacturers.

    In honor of its 75th anniversary, Colombo has created new television
    advertising featuring Bob Colombosian and his wife, Alice,
    spokespeople for the brand since 2001. The ads will run in select
    markets in the Northeast starting in June.

    About Colombo Yogurt

    In 1929, Sarkis and Rose Colombosian made the first batch of Colombo
    Yogurt in their Andover kitchen using a family recipe. Soon, they
    were selling it across the Northeast, making Colombo the first yogurt
    sold in America. Now, 75 years later, Colombo is still selling yogurt
    throughout the Northeast and takes pride in its Massachusetts
    heritage. Colombo offers both 8-ounce cups and 32-ounce containers
    and is owned by Minnesota-based General Mills. Visit
    www.colomboyogurt.com for more information.

    Underwritten by Colombo Yogurt, Opinion Research Corporation
    conducted the yogurt consumption survey by telephone from March
    12-15, 2004, interviewing a national probability sample of 1,024
    adults 18 years of age and older, living in private households in the
    continental United States. The margin of error is plus or minus three
    percentage points for the entire sample and four percentage points
    for yogurt consumers.

    (1) AC Nielsen, US 2MM+, 2000-2003

    (2) AC Nielsen Panel Facts, Total US, 2000-2003

    (3) AC Nielsen, US 2MM+, 52 weeks ending 3/27/04, excluding Wal-Mart

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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