Greek Out! Greek Yogurt Trendiest Treat in Town

3 Comments | Written on August 1, 2012 at 1:00 pm, by Lesley Kennedy

Pinkberry

If only cash-strapped Greece had found a way to trademark its national yogurt, all its financial woes might be solved.

As USA Today reports, Greek yogurt is having a moment, and many well-known brands are doing their best to capitalize on its popularity.

Several Pinkberry stores are now testing plain Greek yogurt alongside the chain’s regular fro-yo offerings nationwide, according to the newspaper.

Seriously, how could this breakfast, from one customer, be bad?: “Greek yogurt topped with dark chocolate granola, raspberries, blueberries, chocolate shavings and cinnamon honey.”

Um, yes, please.

“We think it’s a very natural evolution and progression,” Pinkberry CEO Ron Graves tells USA Today of going Greek. “We’ve always been about yogurt and about fresh.”

And it’s not just breakfast or sweet combos on the menu, either. The newspaper reports you’ll find toppings like olives, tomatoes and pesto to swirl in, too (like those pictured, bottom left and right).

Interesting …

Other companies on the Greek yogurt bandwagon include Ben & Jerry’s, which launched four flavors made from Greek frozen yogurt earlier this year (we admit a slight addiction to the Peanut Butter Banana). And Dannon, which opened The Yogurt Culture Company in New York City last month, is allowing customers to add their own toppings to Greek and regular yogurt.

Not be left out, Chobani opened up a Greek yogurt bar in the Big Apple recently as well, and PepsiCo has announced plans to sell a line of Greek yogurt soon.

So why all the Greek yogurt love? It’s packed with protein, USA Today notes, sometimes equaling the same amount per serving that you’ll find in 3-ounces of meat. That’s one of the reasons it’s been such a success in the Pinkberry trial — and why the company plans to offer Greek yogurt at all its stores by the end of the year.

To that, we can’t help but say, “Opa!”