"Making Expensive Greek Yogurt at Home"... Booming Sales of Large-Capacity Yogurt

Large-capacity Yogurt Market Doubles in Size
Home Cooking and Healthy Pleasure Trends on the Rise

Large-capacity plain yogurt is gaining attention in the dairy market. As high inflation persists, the trend of consumers seeking both cost-effectiveness and health benefits is driving yogurt products of 1kg or more to become essential items on the dining table.

According to the food industry and Nielsen Korea on May 10, the domestic offline market for spoonable fermented milk reached 488.6 billion KRW last year, growing at an average annual rate of 4.4%. Within this, the large-capacity plain yogurt segment more than doubled from 9 billion KRW to 19.3 billion KRW, recording a steep average annual growth rate of 46.4%.

In line with this market growth, major food companies are also launching large-capacity products in quick succession. Seoul Dairy Cooperative introduced "The Richer Plain Yogurt Soonsoo," targeting demand for homemade Greek yogurt. Namyang Dairy Products recently released "Bulgarius Plain Yogurt" in a 1.8kg size. "Bulgarius Plain Yogurt" offers 10 trillion lactic acid bacteria per bottle and 110mg of calcium per 100g, aiming to provide both functionality and economic value. It also features additive-free raw milk and bio-protection technology. Sweet Bio, which operates the premium yogurt brand Greekday, has also launched extra-large products in 1.8L and 2.3L sizes.

Binggrae has introduced "Yoplait Only3 Plain," reflecting the clean label (minimal additives) trend. This product is fermented using only three ingredients?domestic raw milk, prebiotics, and probiotics?enhancing ingredient transparency and health benefits. It is also available in a 1.8L large-capacity format, making it suitable as a breakfast substitute or a family snack.

This trend aligns with the health-conscious DIY (Do It Yourself) food culture led by the MZ generation. Through social networking services (SNS), "homemade Greek yogurt recipes" are spreading, and yogurts that offer taste, functionality, and cost-effectiveness are emerging as meal replacements. Home cooking demand for using yogurt in smoothies, yogurt bowls, oatmeal, and salad dressings is rapidly increasing.

Recently, the trend of making yogurt into ice cream has also been gaining attention. Content related to "making yogurt ice cream" is spreading through SNS, establishing itself as part of the modisumer trend (consumers who modify products in their own way).

Increased price sensitivity is also driving demand for large-capacity yogurt. According to a survey conducted by Namyang Dairy Products in January this year, 40% of large-capacity yogurt buyers cited "cost-effectiveness" as their main purchase reason. In fact, the price per gram is often about half that of conventional small-packaged (100?150g) products, making it a rational consumption alternative in an era of high inflation.

An industry official stated, "The yogurt market is evolving from simple fermented milk to a platform for home baking and home cooking," adding, "Large-capacity plain yogurt is a product category that precisely meets the needs of consumers seeking healthy eating habits while alleviating the burden of rising prices."