Go-Gurt

Go-GURT, also known as Yoplait Tubes in Canada and as Frubes in the United Kingdom, is an American brand of low-fat yogurt for children. It is squeezed out of a tube directly into the mouth, instead of being eaten with a spoon. It was introduced by General Mills licensed Yoplait in 1998 as the first yogurt made specifically for kids.

Background

Stephen Kaufman, a food scientist, and Jim McGuire, a research and development technician, came up with the invention while working for General Mills in the late 1980s.[1] The original idea was based off frozen ice pops. Kaufman told the Minneapolis–Saint Paul magazine City Pages that the original conception was for the yogurt to be firm so the tube would stand straight up — like an ice pop — but when that didn't work out, they shifted toward a creamy, slurpable yogurt.

The original idea faced internal opposition at General Mills. Kaufman used hotel shampoo pouches as an inspiration to create prototypes of Go-Gurt, which he made himself on a personal-care product pouching machine he rented, to convince General Mills engineers of the idea's worthiness.[1]

Go-Gurt became a side option in McDonalds' Happy Meals in 2014.

Anthropologist Susan Squires claims that her ethnographic research in U.S. American families led her client to the development of Go-GURT.[2]

Sub-brands

In June 2006, frubes Fizzix, a carbonated yogurt snack, was released under the Yoplait brand. This "sparkling yogurt" was originally developed by Lynn Ogden, a professor in the College of Life Sciences at Brigham Young University (BYU), in 1983. Ogden obtained a patent in 1997 and finally found an interested licensor at General Mills in 2006. BYU receives 55% of the royalties, which will go toward BYU's mentoring program and research, while Ogden receives the rest.[3][4] Fizzix was available in six flavors, but appears to have been discontinued.[5]

In 2005, frubes Smoothie, a drinkable yogurt for children was released.[6] The product currently comes in four flavors: Strawberry Splash, Paradise Punch, Mango Blast, and Wild Berry.[7]

Internationally

Outside of the U.S., Go-GURT is sold as "Yoplait Tubes" in Canada and as "Frubes" in the United Kingdom. It was introduced in Japan as "グルト" (guruto) in March 2010. The name is a play on words as it evokes the sound of gulping a liquid and incorporates part of the Japanese transliteration of yogurt, ヨーグルト (yo-guruto). Go-Gurt is also available in Australia where they are known as "Yoplait Go-GURT or simply "Go-GURT". There is also another brand available in Australia known as "Yoplait Smackers" and is aimed at young girls.[8][9][10][11][12]

Flavors

Generally, each box comes with two different flavors.[13]

  • Strawberry / Berry
  • Strawberry / Cotton Candy
  • Strawberry / Vanilla
  • Strawberry / Mixed Berry
  • Strawberry / Punch
  • Strawberry Banana / Cotton Candy
  • Strawberry Banana / Watermelon
  • Strawberry Banana / Raspberry
  • Strawberry Watermelon / Punch
  • Berry / Cherry
  • Melon Berry / Cotton Candy
  • Strawberry
  • Peach / Blueberry (Canada)
  • Raspberry / Grape (Canada)
  • Strawberry / Cherry (Canada)
  • Fruit Punch / Strawberry-Banana (Canada)

Special editions

Fizzix

Twisted

Prehistotubes

A limited edition in 2009 had 2 flavors represented by cave people reminiscent of The Flintstones. Besides the 'tub' in their names, they would be Lulu and Ook.[14]

  • Acai (mascot is Lulutub, purple-haired woman wearing a black and white dress and a pearl necklace)
  • Red bayberry (mascot is Tubôôk, red-haired man wearing black and red toga)

Marketing

Go-GURT launched a new campaign titled Kids Never Had It So Easy August 1, 2017. The campaign features two "grumpy old fourth graders" bemoaning how easy kids - meaning third graders - have it today.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 Kaufman, Jared. "The St. Paul-based inventor of Go-Gurt tells the dramatic story of his totally tubular idea". City Pages. City Pages. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  2. ↑ Susan Squires and Bryan Byrne: Creating Breakthrough Ideas: The Collaboration of Anthropologists and Designers in the Product Development Industry. 2002. 239 pages.
  3. ↑ BYU NewsNet – "Fizzix" Carbonated Yogurt to Hit Stores
  4. ↑ BYU professor creates "fizzy yogurt" – ABC4.com
  5. ↑ – http://www.gogurtfizzix.com/ now redirects to http://www.gogurt.com
  6. ↑ Yoplait frubes Smoothie – Shake Up The Fun (2005) 0:30 (USA) | Adland
  7. ↑ Yoplait – Products – frubes Archived 2007-11-27 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2113148/Parents-fury-childrens-yoghurt-brand-Frubes-drops-genius-slogan.html
  9. ↑ http://adf.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/cattle/dairy/national-recall-of-yoplait-gogurt-and-yoplait-smackers/1239328.aspx
  10. ↑ http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q12155812462
  11. ↑ http://www.lifemadedelicious.ca/articles/y/yoplait-tubes-nutritional
  12. ↑ http://www.yoplait.co.uk/brand/frubes
  13. ↑ "Products – Gogurt". www.gogurt.com. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
  14. ↑ Prehistotubes Archived 2009-07-07 at the Wayback Machine., retrieved July 10, 2009
  15. ↑ "Grumpy Old 4th Graders Can't Understand Kids Today in Go-Gurt's Hilarious New Ads". Retrieved 2017-08-02.
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