Siggi's Dairy
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Dairy |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Siggi Hilmarsson |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Global |
Key people | Siggi Hilmarsson (founder) |
| Products | Skyr (Icelandic-style yogurt) |
| Parent | Icelandic Milk & Skyr Corporation (subsidiary of Lactalis) |
Siggi's Dairy (presented as siggi's dairy) is a global American brand specializing in skyr, a traditional Icelandic-style yogurt. It operates under the ownership of Icelandic Milk & Skyr Corporation, which is a subsidiary of the French dairy conglomerate Lactalis. Established in 2005 by Iceland native Siggi Hilmarsson, the company initially distributed products locally within New York before expanding to Whole Foods Market stores across the United States in 2008.
By 2015, Siggi's had become the fastest expanding yogurt brand throughout the U.S. In 2018, it was acquired by Lactalis but continues to function with operational independence.
History
Siggi Hilmarsson, born circa 1976 in Iceland, relocated to the United States in 2002 to pursue an MBA at Columbia Business School. Observing that American yogurts contained excessive sugar, he began crafting his own version inspired by a traditional Icelandic recipe from 1913. Aiming for reduced sugar and a denser consistency, his initial products varied in quality. After receiving encouraging feedback from Murray's Cheese buyers, he obtained early funding from his Columbia professor and other investors, initiating production at a pilot dairy facility in Upstate New York. By 2005, he left his consulting position at Deloitte to dedicate himself fully to the venture.
In 2006, Siggi started selling yogurt at local markets in New York and provided samples at a retreat attended by a Whole Foods executive. Interest from Whole Foods grew by late 2007, culminating in a nationwide rollout across half of their stores in January 2008—a significant growth milestone. The surge in demand during summer 2008 surpassed production capabilities, necessitating a temporary shutdown to upgrade equipment; this posed a serious financial risk.
By August 2010, Icelandic Milk & Skyr Corporation employed nine staff members and sourced milk from six family-operated farms. Weekly output reached 100,000 six-ounce servings by 2011. To accommodate expansion, the company moved to a larger manufacturing facility by 2013 and opened an additional plant in Wisconsin as backup. Distribution as of 2014 was primarily through Whole Foods and Target.
Despite early operational hurdles, Siggi's streamlined its processes by 2015 and was stocked in approximately 8,800 U.S. retail locations, experiencing sales growth of 120% compared to the previous year. By 2016, availability expanded to roughly 25,000 stores including ShopRite, Target, and Wegmans. The brand also secured placement in about 7,000 Starbucks locations by year-end.
As of 2017, Siggi's maintained its position as the fastest-growing yogurt brand nationwide and remained the leading seller at Whole Foods. In 2018, French dairy giant Lactalis acquired the company but preserved its independent management structure.
Products
Siggi's yogurt features higher protein content and contains between 25% and 50% less sugar than many competing brands, utilizing approximately four times more milk per serving. Its ingredients include natural fruit and cane sugar. Initially, the brand faced difficulties due to its tart flavor profile and reduced sweetness.
Available flavors include vanilla, blueberry, mixed berries with açaí, and orange with ginger. A mint and pear variety was discontinued around 2009 because of supply chain challenges. In 2014, The Atlantic characterized Siggi's as "tangy" and sour while noting that its price point was higher than that of competitor Chobani.