This year, The Dannon Co., White Plains, N.Y., is celebrating its 75th anniversary. To say that the company has accomplished a lot for the U.S. yogurt category in its seven-plus decades of existence would be a massive understatement.
Founded in 1942 by Daniel Carasso, who had moved from Europe to New York, the company initially was called Dannon Milk Products. Why? Because mainstream America had no idea what yogurt was, according to Michael Neuwirth, senior director, external communication at DanoneWave — the new business unit combining the North American business of Dannon’s parent company Danone with that of Denver-based WhiteWave Foods.