WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — Pedro Silveira has been named president of yogurt for Danone North America as the company looks ahead to its next decade of innovation in the category. Danone North America’s market share in yogurt surpassed 33% in 2019, up from 27% in 2007-08, according to the company.

The company’s acquisition of the WhiteWave Foods Co. in 2017 brought such brands into the fold as Silk and So Delicious Dairy Free, adding plant-based varieties to a yogurt portfolio that includes Activia, Dannon, Danimals, Light & Fit and Oikos.

Danone North America makes one in every three yogurts sold in the United States, Mr. Silveira said.

Pedro Silveira, new president of Danone North America's yogurt business

“From smartphones to influencers, momentous changes have moved American culture during the 2010s,” Mr. Silveira said. “And in supermarkets one place where culture has changed forever is the yogurt aisle. Our amazing house of brands, which includes yogurts and yogurt alternatives such as Activia, Dannon, Danimals, Light & Fit, Oikos, Silk, So Delicious Dairy Free and Two Good, has positioned us to give consumers what they want and offer them choices, for example to support flexitarian eating patterns as they gain popularity. Acting in response to consumers through our house of brands has driven our ability to grow the category overall.”

Mr. Silveira, who has more than 10 years of experience with the company, was most recently president of Danone Canada.

Danone North America has unveiled its yogurt and yogurt alternatives product pipeline for 2020, including new plant-based options, lower sugar varieties, naturally sweetened offerings, new textures and more. 

“For the past 100 years, we have always put the diverse interests of consumers first, and year after year, our innovations are leading the category — growing it and bringing consumers into the yogurt aisle — whether they are new or returning,” Mr. Silveira said. “We’re incredibly proud to have started and ended the 2010s with breakthrough innovations and look forward to making the yogurt aisle a vibrant and exciting destination in the American supermarket as we enter a new decade.”

View slideshow of new products coming from Danone North America.