Is Activia made by Yoplait? Uncovering the True Parent Companies

December 17, 2025 •

3 min read

Despite being two of the most recognizable yogurt brands on the market, Activia and Yoplait are not made by the same company. This common misconception often arises due to their similar placement in dairy aisles and their long-standing presence in the industry. The truth is that Activia is a flagship brand of the French multinational food company Danone, while Yoplait, after a recent change in ownership, now belongs to dairy giant Lactalis.

Quick Summary

Activia and Yoplait are separate and distinct yogurt brands, owned by different multinational corporations. Activia is made by Danone, whereas Yoplait is produced by Lactalis, which recently acquired the US yogurt business from General Mills. This means the two companies have different products, ownership, and history.

Key Points

Different Companies: Activia is owned by Danone, while Yoplait is owned by Lactalis, following a recent acquisition from General Mills.
Distinct Focus: Activia is positioned as a functional food with specific probiotic benefits for digestive health, whereas Yoplait emphasizes flavor variety and broad appeal.
Proprietary Cultures: Activia contains a unique, scientifically developed probiotic strain called Bifidobacterium animalis lactis DN-173 010.
New Ownership for Yoplait: In 2021, Lactalis acquired the U.S. yogurt business, including Yoplait, from General Mills.
Separate Strategies: The two companies pursue different market strategies, targeting different consumer needs within the competitive dairy market.

Activia's Parent Company: Groupe Danone

Activia is a creation of the multinational French food company Groupe Danone, known simply as Dannon in the United States. The brand was first introduced in France in 1987 and is now sold in more than 70 countries across five continents. Danone is a global leader in the dairy and plant-based sectors, with a health-focused portfolio that includes other well-known brands such as Actimel and Alpro.

The Science Behind Activia

What sets Activia apart is its focus on digestive health, a result of decades of research by Danone scientists. The product contains a specific, proprietary probiotic strain called Bifidobacterium animalis lactis DN-173 010, which Danone markets under various names like Bifidus Regularis. This probiotic is designed to survive the harsh environment of the stomach and reach the gut alive, where it can contribute to a healthy gut flora. This scientific emphasis on probiotics is a core part of the brand's identity and a key differentiator in the market.

Yoplait's Ownership History and Recent Changes

For many years, the American consumer market knew Yoplait as a brand under the umbrella of General Mills. However, in 2021, General Mills completed the sale of its U.S. yogurt business to the French dairy giant Lactalis. This acquisition included the rights to the Yoplait and Liberté brands in the U.S. and Canada, respectively, shifting the ownership landscape significantly. Globally, Yoplait has been a joint venture or franchise brand for a longer period, with roots tracing back to a French dairy cooperative called Sodiaal.

The Yoplait Brand Identity

Yoplait is famous for its wide variety of flavors and products, from its classic original yogurt to Go-Gurt and Greek yogurt lines. While it offers products with live and active cultures, its brand positioning traditionally centers more on flavor variety and accessibility rather than specific, clinically proven probiotic benefits like Activia. The brand's long history has made it a household name, though its market position has been challenged by the rise of Greek yogurt and other competing brands.

Comparison: Activia vs. Yoplait

To highlight the key differences, here's a detailed comparison of the two yogurt brands:


Feature	Activia	Yoplait
Parent Company	Groupe Danone	Lactalis (formerly General Mills in the US/Canada)
Core Selling Point	Probiotic benefits for digestive health, specifically targeting regularity.	Flavor variety, accessibility, and a wide range of product formats.
Unique Ingredient	Proprietary probiotic strain: Bifidobacterium animalis lactis DN-173 010.	Does not contain a specific, proprietary probiotic strain in the same way as Activia.
Historical Focus	Primarily on functional foods and specific health claims related to probiotics.	Broadly appealing yogurt products, with an emphasis on taste and product innovation.
Product Range	Includes traditional yogurt, drinkable yogurts, and kefirs focused on gut health.	Features a very wide variety of products, including classic cups, Greek, Go-Gurt tubes, and whips.

The Market Landscape

Both Activia and Yoplait are major players in the competitive dairy market, but they target different consumer needs. Activia appeals to health-conscious consumers specifically looking for digestive health benefits, backed by scientific research. Yoplait, with its extensive flavor selection and accessible price point, caters to a broader audience, including families and those prioritizing taste and variety. The yogurt aisle is a crowded space, and the distinct corporate parents and product strategies of these two brands allow them to coexist without being direct competitors for every consumer.

Conclusion

In summary, the notion that is Activia made by Yoplait is definitively false. Activia is owned and produced by the French multinational corporation Danone, which focuses on functional foods and digestive health. Yoplait, on the other hand, is currently under the ownership of Lactalis, following its acquisition from General Mills. While both are staples in the dairy aisle, they are produced by completely separate companies with distinct product strategies, histories, and primary market focuses. Their different owners and specializations are key to understanding the full picture of the yogurt market.

Dissecting the Dairy Discrepancy

Activia is a product of Danone, a company specializing in health-focused, probiotic dairy items.
Yoplait was famously associated with General Mills but is now owned by Lactalis.
The misconception likely stems from both brands being major players in the same supermarket category.
Activia's core offering is its unique probiotic strain, differentiating it from many other yogurts.
Lactalis's acquisition of Yoplait from General Mills highlights a significant shift in the competitive dairy industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

The parent company of Activia is the multinational French food corporation Groupe Danone, known as Dannon in the United States.

No, as of 2021, Yoplait's U.S. yogurt business, previously owned by General Mills, was sold to the French dairy company Lactalis.

The confusion likely arises because both brands are popular and are often sold side-by-side in the same refrigerated section of grocery stores, leading to a common misconception about their shared origin.

The key difference is Activia's focus on a proprietary probiotic strain for digestive health, based on scientific research by Danone, while Yoplait's strategy is centered on a wide variety of flavors and accessibility.

While both are major global players, Lactalis is the world's largest dairy company by revenue, with a vast brand portfolio that has expanded with recent acquisitions like Yoplait.

Yes, Activia contains a specific probiotic strain called Bifidobacterium animalis lactis DN-173 010, which was developed by Danone and is unique to the Activia product line.

General Mills sold its U.S. yogurt business to Lactalis. This included the rights to the Yoplait brand in the U.S. and Canada, while the French dairy cooperative Sodiaal retained exclusive ownership of the brand itself.