Is Yoplait a subsidiary of General Mills?

Yoplait is not a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Mills. The brand is owned by SODIAAL, a French dairy cooperative, and licensed to General Mills for the US market since 1977. General Mills produces, markets, and sells Yoplait products in the US under this licensing agreement. SODIAAL retains ownership of the brand globally and manages licensing agreements with other companies in international markets.

Is Yoplait publicly traded?

Yoplait itself is not publicly traded. The brand is owned by SODIAAL, a privately held French dairy cooperative. General Mills (NYSE: GIS), which holds the US license, is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Investors seeking exposure to Yoplait's US commercial performance can purchase shares in General Mills, which reported approximately billion in net sales for fiscal year 2025.

When was Yoplait founded?

Yoplait was created in 1965 when six French dairy cooperatives merged to form SODIAAL. The brand name is a portmanteau of Yola and Coplait two of the founding cooperatives. General Mills acquired the US license for Yoplait in 1977 and has operated the brand in the American market for nearly 50 years.

Yoplait was founded in 1965 by SODIAAL, a cooperative formed by the merger of six French dairy cooperatives. The brand was created to produce and distribute yogurt commercially using milk from cooperative member farms. SODIAAL remains the owner of the Yoplait brand today.

What is Yoplait's market position?

Yoplait holds approximately third or fourth position in the US yogurt market by dollar sales, having lost the top spot to Chobani around 2013. The brand competes against Chobani, Danone (Dannon, Oikos), Fage, Siggi's, and Noosa. Yoplait Oui has carved out a premium niche in the French-style yogurt segment. Globally, Yoplait products are sold in over 50 countries through SODIAAL's licensing model.

Is Yoplait available internationally?

Yes, Yoplait products are sold in over 50 countries through SODIAAL's licensing model. Local dairy companies produce Yoplait-branded yogurt under license from SODIAAL in markets outside the US and France. General Mills manages the US and Canadian markets, while SODIAAL manages the French market and licenses the brand to partners in other countries.

Food & Beverage

Who Owns Yoplait?

Yoplait is owned by SODIAAL, a French dairy cooperative, with the US commercial license held by General Mills (NYSE: GIS) since 1977. Yoplait was the best-selling yogurt brand in the United States for decades before being displaced by Chobani's Greek yogurt around 2013. General Mills sells Yoplait in the US across multiple formats including Original, Light, Greek, and Oui. Yoplait products are available in over 50 countries.

Parent Company

General Mills, Inc.

Acquired

1977

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

Paris, France (SODIAAL); Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA (General Mills)

Yoplait Timeline

1928

General Mills, Inc.

Parent company established in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Company Founded

1965

Yoplait

Founded by SODIAAL (cooperative), Yoplait Company

Founded

1977

Acquired by General Mills, Inc.

General Mills, Inc. acquired Yoplait

Acquired

GlobalOfficial Website

Who Owns Yoplait?

Parent Company: General Mills, Inc.
Ownership Type: Licensed
Acquisition Year: 1977
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock Ticker: NYSE: GIS

Brand	Parent Company	Ownership Type
Yoplait	General Mills, Inc.	Licensed

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Yoplait on Amazon

History of Yoplait

Founded: 1965
Founders: SODIAAL (cooperative), Yoplait Company
Acquired by General Mills, Inc.: 1977

Yoplait was created in 1965 when six French dairy cooperatives merged to form SODIAAL. The brand name Yoplait is a portmanteau of Yola and Coplait two of the founding cooperatives. The brand launched as a commercially distributed cup yogurt using fruit-on-the-bottom formats, which became its signature product in France and then internationally.

Yoplait expanded rapidly through the 1970s, establishing licensing agreements with dairy companies in multiple countries. The brand's licensing model allowed local manufacturers to produce and sell Yoplait-branded yogurt using SODIAAL's recipes and brand identity, creating a global footprint without requiring SODIAAL to invest in manufacturing infrastructure in each market.

In 1977, General Mills acquired the US license for Yoplait and began building the brand in the American market. General Mills invested heavily in television advertising and developed the distinctive peel-foil lid cup that became Yoplait's most recognizable packaging element in the US. The company marketed Yoplait as a healthy, convenient snack for women and families, positioning it as a premium yogurt brand.

Yoplait dominated the US yogurt market through the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. The brand's fruit-on-the-bottom cups, whipped varieties, and GoGurt tubes (launched in 1998 as a portable yogurt snack for children) made Yoplait the best-selling US yogurt brand for over two decades. General Mills extended the brand into multiple product lines including Yoplait Light (fat-free), Yoplait Whips (mousse-style), and Yoplait Delight Parfait.

The Greek yogurt revolution fundamentally disrupted Yoplait's market position. Chobani, founded by Hamdi Ulukaya in 2005, launched its first Greek yogurt product in 2007. Chobani's higher-protein, thicker, lower-sugar yogurt appealed to health-conscious consumers and grew with remarkable speed. By 2012-2013, Chobani had overtaken Yoplait as the best-selling US yogurt brand by dollar sales.

General Mills responded to the Greek yogurt threat with Yoplait Greek, launched in 2010. However, early versions of Yoplait Greek used added thickeners rather than the traditional straining process used by Chobani and other Greek yogurt brands, leading to criticism from consumers and food advocates. General Mills subsequently reformulated the product and launched Yoplait Greek 100, a 100-calorie version of its Greek yogurt line.

In 2017, General Mills launched Yoplait Oui, a French-style set yogurt in glass jars. Oui was inspired by the traditional French yogurt-making process, with ingredients cultured in the jar over several hours. Oui found a distinct premium positioning in the US market, appealing to consumers seeking artisanal, less-processed foods. The glass jar packaging differentiated Oui from all other yogurt products on US shelves and has been a meaningful brand reinvention for Yoplait.

In recent years, Yoplait has continued to innovate with new product formats. The brand has introduced Yoplait Protein, targeting the high-protein snack segment, and has expanded the Oui line with new flavors and formats. General Mills has also focused on reducing sugar content across the Yoplait portfolio in response to consumer demand for lower-sugar options.

About General Mills, Inc.

What does General Mills own?
General Mills owns a portfolio of consumer food brands including Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Wheaties, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Haagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Yoplait, Totino's, Old El Paso, Annie's, and Blue Buffalo pet food. The company operates in more than 100 countries and sells products across breakfast cereals, snacks, baking, frozen foods, yogurt, and pet food categories.

Is General Mills publicly traded?
Yes, General Mills, Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker GIS. The company has been publicly traded for decades and has paid dividends continuously for more than 125 years. Major institutional shareholders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street. General Mills has no single controlling shareholder.

What is General Mills' annual revenue?
For fiscal year 2025 (ended May 25, 2025), General Mills reported net sales of $19.5 billion, down 2% from $19.86 billion in FY2024. Net earnings were $2.3 billion, down 8% year-over-year. Diluted EPS was $4.10, and adjusted diluted EPS was $4.21. Operating profit was $3.3 billion, down 4%.

Who is the CEO of General Mills?
Jeff Harmening has served as Chairman and CEO since 2017. He has emphasized a "remarkable experience" framework focused on product innovation, consumer value, and brand building to restore volume-driven growth. Harmening stated that the company's "number one goal in fiscal 2026 is to restore volume-driven organic sales growth."

Who founded General Mills?
General Mills was formed in 1928 through the merger of Washburn-Crosby Company and several other flour milling companies. Washburn-Crosby Company was founded in 1866 by Cadwallader Washburn and John Crosby in Minneapolis, Minnesota. James Ford Bell led the 1928 merger that created General Mills.

Where is General Mills headquartered?
General Mills is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. The company has maintained its headquarters in the Minneapolis area since its founding, reflecting the city's historical importance as a center of flour milling and food processing.

What is General Mills' FY2026 outlook?
For fiscal 2026, General Mills expects organic net sales to range from down 1% to up 1%. Adjusted operating profit is expected to decline 10-15% in constant currency, and adjusted diluted EPS is expected to decline 10-15% from the FY2025 base of $4.21. The decline reflects growth investments, input cost inflation including tariff impacts, and a reset of corporate incentive compensation.

Founded: 1928
Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock: NYSE: GIS

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Where Is Yoplait Made / Based?

Headquarters: Paris, France (SODIAAL); Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA (General Mills)
Manufacturing / Operations: France, United States, Canada

Yoplait Categories & Tags

Yogurt Dairy French Brand Licensed Brand General Mills

Yoplait Sustainability & Ethics

Yoplait's sustainability practices are managed through General Mills' corporate sustainability framework in the US and SODIAAL's cooperative sustainability programs in France. General Mills has committed to regenerative agriculture practices across its supply chain, including dairy sourcing for Yoplait products.

General Mills has set a goal of advancing regenerative agriculture on 1 million acres of farmland by 2030. The company works with dairy suppliers to implement practices that improve soil health, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance water quality. Yoplait's milk supply is part of this broader commitment, though the brand does not carry independent certifications for its sustainability practices.

SODIAAL's cooperative structure inherently supports sustainable dairy farming by providing French dairy farmers with fair prices and long-term stability. The cooperative model ensures that a larger share of the retail price returns to farmers compared to non-cooperative supply chains. SODIAAL has implemented environmental programs including methane reduction initiatives and biodiversity preservation on member farms.

Yoplait does not carry organic certification for its standard product lines. The brand has not obtained B Corp certification and is not certified fair trade. Consumers seeking independently certified sustainable yogurt options may need to look to specialized brands with explicit certifications.

General Mills has faced criticism from environmental advocates regarding the environmental impact of conventional dairy farming, including greenhouse gas emissions from cattle and water usage. The company has responded with sustainability commitments and investments in regenerative agriculture, though critics argue that progress has been insufficient.

Awards & Recognition

Yoplait Oui has received recognition from food industry publications and consumer testing organizations for its product quality and innovative packaging. The glass jar format has been acknowledged as a distinctive innovation in the US yogurt market, differentiating Oui from competing products.

Yoplait has received recognition from parenting and family publications for its GoGurt product, which pioneered the tube yogurt format for children. GoGurt has been recognized for its convenience and portability as a lunchbox and on-the-go snack option.

General Mills, Yoplait's US licensee, has received corporate recognition for its sustainability commitments and workplace practices. The company has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and has received recognition for its regenerative agriculture initiatives.

Yoplait's long history as a leading yogurt brand has earned it recognition as one of the most recognized yogurt brands globally. The brand's presence in over 50 countries and its decades-long history in both French and American markets have established it as a significant brand in the global dairy industry.

Yoplait Recalls & Controversies

Yoplait has faced limited product recalls and controversies during its history. The brand has maintained generally strong food safety standards through General Mills' quality control systems in the US and SODIAAL's cooperative quality programs in France.

General Mills has occasionally issued voluntary recalls of Yoplait products due to potential contamination or quality issues. These recalls have been limited in scope and have not resulted in widespread consumer health impacts. The company has maintained transparent communication during recall events, following FDA recall protocols.

Yoplait has faced criticism regarding the sugar content of its products, particularly in children's products like GoGurt. Health advocates have raised concerns about added sugars in flavored yogurt products marketed to children. General Mills has responded by reducing sugar content in some Yoplait products and offering lower-sugar alternatives.

The brand has faced competition-related controversy regarding its early Greek yogurt products, which used added thickeners rather than the traditional straining process. Critics argued that these products were not real Greek yogurt. General Mills subsequently reformulated its Greek yogurt line and has been more transparent about its manufacturing processes.

Environmental advocates have raised concerns about the environmental impact of Yoplait's packaging, particularly the plastic cups used for most products. The Oui glass jar format has been partially positioned as a more sustainable packaging alternative, though the brand's overall packaging footprint remains substantial.

Yoplait Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+Global brand presence in over 50 countries through SODIAAL's licensing model
+Backed by General Mills' extensive US distribution network and marketing capabilities
+Diversified product portfolio including Original, Light, Greek, Oui, Whips, and GoGurt
+Yoplait Oui has carved out a successful premium niche with distinctive glass jar packaging
+SODIAAL's cooperative structure ensures fair returns to French dairy farmers

Considerations

-Lost US market leadership to Chobani around 2013 and now holds approximately third or fourth position by dollar sales
-Licensing arrangement means General Mills does not own the Yoplait brand outright, creating long-term uncertainty
-Sugar content in products, particularly GoGurt, has drawn criticism from health advocates
-No independent sustainability certifications (organic, B Corp, fair trade) for standard product lines
-Environmental concerns about conventional dairy farming and plastic packaging footprint

Frequently Asked Questions About Yoplait

Sources & Further Reading

Competitors to Yoplait

These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.

Brand	Parent Company	Country	Founded	Market Position	Primary Market	Gender Target
Activia	Danone	France	1987	Mass market	Global	All Genders
Dannon	Danone	USA	1942	Mass market	United states	All Genders
Fage	Fage	USA (US operations) / Luxembourg (holding)	1926	Premium authentic-greek-yogurt	Global	All-consumers
Oikos	Danone	France	2011	Mass market	United states	All Genders
Siggi's	Lactalis	USA	2005	Us skyr-leader	United states	All-consumers
Stonyfield	Lactalis	USA	1983	Premium	United states	All Genders