Yogurt chocolate leaves can premiumize snacks and breakfast cereals: Herza

German supplier Herza Schokolade has developed two leaf-shaped yogurt chocolate inclusions, which it claims could prove popular in Western Europe where yogurt’s reputation is rising.

The first inclusion is made from organic whole milk chocolate and organic strawberries, while Herza has also developed organic yogurt chocolate leaves made from Greek-style yogurt with honey and quinoa.

Herza says it can also tailor other yogurt chocolate inclusions to meet customer requirements. 

Greek-style yoghurt’s rising profile

Carsten Braumann, sales director at Herza, told this site: “Sales of natural yogurt in food retailing in Germany has been rising throughout the last years. We are taking up this trend in creating innovative ideas around this topic.”

He said yogurt chocolate already exists in mueslis, but there are not yet any double-layered products containing yogurt chocolate and quinoa or fruit pieces.

Herza sees the most potential for its new inclusions in mueslis and snacks mixes in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK, where Greek-style or protein-enriched yogurt enjoys a positive image.

Compound confectionery

“The yogurt chocolate itself is a cocoa butter-based fat compound confectionary…it is not a milk chocolate,” said Braumann.

He said there was no impact on mouthfeel because yogurt is added to the chocolate mass like milk powder in milk chocolate.

Herza will exhibit its yogurt chocolate - as well as small vegan organic chocolate pieces and purple organic chocolate pieces - at trade fair BioFach in Nuremberg from 14-17 February this year.