Horizon Organic Expands Omega-3-Boosted Line

Horizon Organic is expanding its toddler-focused Growing Years line, which features dairy products fortified with DHA-omega-3. 

New Growing Years products include organic low-fat yogurt pouches in blueberry and strawberry; organic cultured dairy smoothies in blueberry and strawberry; reduced-fat 2% milk; and organic single-serve whole-milk boxes. 

Horizon, a Danone North America brand since 2017, launched the Growing Years line in 2019. Growing Years Organic Whole Milk products are geared toward toddlers transitioning from breast milk or infant formula to dairy milk. The addition of reduced-fat and low-fat Growing Years products caters to parents who are looking for lower-fat dairy options for their children ages 2 to 5 but who also seek the brain- and gut-health supporting nutrients found in products containing omega-3 fatty acids. 

Each serving of Growing Years dairy products contains 50 milligrams of DHA-omega-3, according to a Horizon Organic news release. A 2020 Mintel report found that nearly 30% of parents cited omega-3s as an important factor when purchasing toddler food, the company stated in the release. 

"We know little ones can be picky, so we've partnered closely with pediatricians to develop new Horizon Organic Growing Years products that offer parents more variety, all while providing key nutrients for growing children," Danone North America SVP of Premium Dairy Regan Ebert said.

Milk recorded dollar and unit sales gains (10.2% and 4.4%, respectively) in January 2021 over the same period a year ago, Chicago-based market research firm IRI reported. Milk's healthy performance contributed to an overall dollar sales gain for the dairy category of 10.1% for the month.