The National Dairy Council (NDC), in collaboration with the European Union, has launched a fresh and motivating campaign called “Yogurt, It’s Great Inside”. The campaign aims to highlight the substantial benefits of yogurt to our health and societal wellbeing. Over the next three years, it will be customised locally and rolled out across Ireland, Belgium, Germany, and Denmark with a focus on yoghurt being a flexible, healthy, and sustainable food option.
Key participants of this campaign are local heroes who represent the essence of sustainable dairy farming and innovative food practices. The campaign throws light on two of Ireland’s beloved yogurt manufacturers – Glenilen Farm and Killowen Farm, along with two popular cafes in Dublin – Póg and Brother Hubbard.
Glenilen Farm based in Drimoleague, County Cork, led by the energetic pair Valerie and Alan Kingston, have been trailblazers in yogurt production since 2002. Their fresh farm products, including natural and Kefir yoghurts, are a regular sight in supermarkets all over Ireland. They demonstrate how traditional methods can be updated to produce food items that taste great and are also environmentally friendly. Concurrently, Killowen Farm, owned by the Dunne family in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, hosts nine generations of dairy farming over 200 years. This farm, recognised for its unique dairy yoghurts and fruit-infused varieties, has newly ventured into cream cheese production, never losing sight of the principles of quality and sustainability.
The campaign also steps into the kitchens of some of Dublin’s renowned cafes. Notably, Póg has outlets at Clontarf, Malahide, and Tara Street and is famous for its health-centric menu. It offers protein-rich pancakes garnished with thick yoghurt and ripe fruit, which is a must-try dish.
This campaign places the emphasis on creating products that are more efficient, more relevant, and consume less energy in production. It further touches on how cocoa-farmers are benefitting from an innovative program designed to reduce the income disparity through the popular KitKat break. Additionally, it also explores how renewable gas will fuel Ireland’s decarbonisation efforts in the future, and the importance of heritage conservation.
Brother Hubbard’s restaurants at Ranelagh and Capel Street use yoghurt as an ingredient that lends a rich and creamy texture to their renowned Eggs Menemen, showcasing the versatility of yoghurt in a variety of dishes, both sweet and savoury. Yoghurt is more than just a delightful foodstuff; it’s also loaded with vital nutrients. As per NDC’s Head of Communications, Cathy Curran, yoghurt is a favoured fermented milk product and a well-rounded source of protein, calcium, phosphorus, iodine, and vitamins B2 and B12, making it incredibly multi-purpose in the kitchen, whether it’s for cooking or simply having a nutritious snack. Recent studies* accentuate the significance of yoghurt in the daily nutrition of Irish consumers who value nutritional worth and flavour. Yoghurts with high protein content, distinctive flavours, and low-fat are in specific demand, mirroring the wider trend for health-aware eating. Interestingly, 71% of Irish consumers perceive yoghurt, particularly the plain type, as beneficial for gut health and digestion, thus indicating its part in overall wellness.
Moreover, this campaign is not just a tribute to the wonder that is yoghurt but also to Ireland’s deep-rooted dairy tradition with an eye towards the future for sustainable food production. In collaboration with local farmers, café proprietors and culinary specialists like Daniel Davey and Erica Drum, NDC is committed to making sure yoghurt stays a staple in our dietary plans, not only for its nutritional benefits but also for its part in endorsing sustainable farming. Erica Drum, a famous TV chef and food stylist, perfectly epitomises this sentiment: “I am thrilled to be part of this campaign, a great admirer of Irish dairy and enjoy incorporating it into all my TV and social media recipes. Yoghurt provides a healthier substitute for cream when something rich and gratifying is desired.”
As the campaign becomes prevalent across Europe, it is evident that yoghurt is not just a basic snack, but a symbol of nourishment, heritage and sustainability. Hence, the following time you savour a creamy bite of yoghurt, bear in mind that it’s not merely a self-indulgence, but a contribution to a movement that appreciates health, community, and our planet.
Potloc conducted a study involving 1,000 participants from each specified market, including nations such as Germany, Denmark, Ireland, and Belgium, during June 2024. The survey participants were individuals aged between 18 and 45, residing in one of the eligible nations. The worldwide sample and country-specific quotas considered factors including the respondent’s gender and age, parents’ gender and age, whether or not they were parents themselves, and the age of their children.