CORAL SPRINGS, Florida, August 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Yogurt sales approach $9 billion in 2017; Annual sales growth expected to continue until at least 2022 - The U.S. yogurt industry grew to about $9 billion in 2017 according to "The Yogurt Market and Yogurt Innovation, 3rd Edition" report buoyed by increasing consumption, growing awareness of health benefits, a shift towards higher-margin products and innovative new products. U.S. consumers have embraced not only frozen yogurt and Greek yogurt, but also authentic, clean-label and organic versions, as well as yogurt drinks, making yogurt dairy's new cash cow.

The companies highlighted in today's commentary are positioned to benefit directly from this growing trend toward diversification within the dairy industry, include: Generation NEXT Franchise Brands, Inc. (OTC:VEND), Danone (OTC:DANOY), General Mills (NYSE:GIS), MTY Food Group Inc. (TSX:MTY) and Shake Shack Inc. (NYSE: SHAK).

Generation NEXT Franchise Brands, Inc. (OTCQB:VEND) is the developer of the world's first fully-automated robotic frozen yogurt vending kiosk designed to disrupt brick and mortar competitors: Menchies and Yogertland. These "unattended" robots eliminate the need for costly rents, employees, food safety measures and are capable of operating 24-hours a day. Since its debut, the company's frozen yogurt robot brand has grown to over 255 franchisees across the U.S. and represents over 1,275 pending robot installations aggregating over $55 million, with additional contract commitments for over 2,900 robots worth an estimated $115 million ($170 million in total) in potential future revenues for Generation NEXT Franchise Brands, Inc. One of the company's more high-profile franchisees, PGA Championship golfer Phil Mickelson, announced an interest in the company, signing a contract in June to deploy 30 Reis & Irvy's locations in Southern California. The company has a partnership agreement with global leading frozen yogurt maker Dannon YoCream™ to frozen yogurt consumables in VEND's Froyo Robots.

Danone (OTCQX: DANOY); spent to acquire plant-based food company WhiteWave whose products have delivered strong growth for a company known for its namesake yogurt and water. The plant-based portfolio delivered high single-digit growth with results were buoyed by the Silk brand. With sales up 3.3% in the second quarter, the French yogurt giant has achieved 4% sales growth in the first half of the year with global sales of nearly $14.6 billion.

With a $53 billion market cap, Danone is a leading global food and beverage company built on four businesses: Essential Dairy and Plant-Based Products, Waters, Early Life Nutrition and Advanced Medical Nutrition.

General Mills (NYSE:GIS), whose yogurt brands include Yoplait, Liberté, Annie's, Go-GURT and Mountain High, is one manufacturer updating its yogurt portfolio. General Mills plans to grow its Oui brand, which was launched in fiscal 2017 and will reach $100 million in sales during its first year. New product initiatives will include extending the line into snacking with the introduction of Oui petite pots. In addition to expanding Oui, GIS is introducing YQ, a new yogurt brand made with ultra-filtered milk that delivers what modern consumers are looking for today: high-protein, less sugar, simple ingredients and great taste.

Sales are growing again. Yoplait, one of General Mills Inc.'s core U.S. businesses, is making strides in Greek yogurt. And Yoplait's "original" yogurt line has blossomed with a new marketing campaign. "The business has turned, " said David Clark, president of Yoplait's U.S. operation. "This is the first time we have seen [growth] metrics in three years." The company announced on December 12, it would buy fellow Canadian restaurant owner Imvescor Restaurant Group Inc. for $192 million, continuing the streak of consolidation in the quick serve restaurant sector.

MTY Food Group Inc. (TSX:MTY), owner and operator of franchises Yogen Fruz, TCBY, La Cremiere, Pinkberry, tasti D-lite and Coldstone Creamery, declared a quarterly dividend of 15¢ per share, payable on August 15, 2018 to shareholders registered in the Company's records at the end of the business day on July 31, 2018. The company announced on December 12, it would buy fellow Canadian restaurant owner Imvescor Restaurant Group Inc. for $192 million, continuing the streak of consolidation in the quick serve restaurant sector.

Shake Shack Inc. (NYSE: SHAK) is scheduled to report second-quarter 2018 financial numbers on Aug 2, after the market closes. In the last reported quarter, the company's earnings have surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 85.7%. The bottom line also outpaced the consensus mark in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average beat of 56%. The company, with 162 stores globally, is bullish with expansion plans. The team anticipates 48 to 53 new locations opening in 2018 to get closer to its goal of 200 U.S stores by 2020 and 450 globally long-term. Some of the first-quarter growth reflects nine new openings -- five in the U.S. and four internationally.

DISCLAIMER: Financialnewsmedia.com (FNM) is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM's market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM has been compensated nineteen hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press release issued by Generation Next Franchise Brands Inc. by the company. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE. This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

Contact Information:
Media Contact
E-mail: info@financialnewsmedia.com
+1(561)325-8757

SOURCE FinancialNewsMedia.com