Plain yogurts top sales charts in Finland’s major grocery chains

Navigating the yogurt aisle can be daunting due to the plethora of choices available, ranging from plain to flavored options, both sweetened and unsweetened. A recent inquiry by Yle into the top-selling yogurt products of S-Group, Kesko, and Lidl revealed that plain yogurts are the most popular across all chains. Nutrition researcher Satu Kinnunen from the University of Helsinki expressed her satisfaction with this trend, noting that plain yogurts contain no added sugars.

“Plain yogurts are typically low in fat and include only the natural sugars found in milk,” Kinnunen said. She advised that sweetening plain yogurt with fruits or berries can also enhance health benefits. Among the best-selling yogurts in alphabetical order from the S-Group, only plain varieties featured, whereas Kesko included one flavored option. Notably, Lidlg did not disclose its top five best-selling yogurts but indicated that plain options are also favored, with mentions of brands like Arla and Ehrmann.

Despite the popularity of yogurt, Kinnunen pointed out that research indicates Finnish people get enough protein even without consuming yogurt. “Yogurt isn’t a central part of most diets, but it can fit well into a varied diet alongside other dairy products,” she added. She highlighted alternative protein sources such as fish, chicken, meat, eggs, legumes, and grains.

While plain varieties remain nutritionally beneficial, Kinnunen emphasized the importance of reading labels for flavored yogurts as they can differ in nutritional content significantly. She noted that some flavored options can be high in sugars and fats, making them less ideal for daily consumption. The key is to focus on overall dietary balance rather than individual products.