Go-GURT
Go-GURT, also known as Yoplait Tubes in Canada and as Frubes in the United Kingdom, is an American brand of processed sweetened yogurt marketed to children.[1] 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 1999.
Background
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[13]
Generally, each box comes with two different flavors.
- 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
- Strawberry+Melon / Kaki+Lemon (Canada only, 2012)
- Atlantik (Raspberry+Blackberries) / Pacifik (Mango+Litchi) (Canada only, 2011)
- Go-Gurt Swirled: Strawberry Milkshake / Banana Split
- Go-Gurt Rush: Extreme Red Rush / Crazy Berry Bolt
- Scooby-Doo Ro-Gurt: Shaggy's Like Cool Punch / 'Rawberry
- SpongeBob SquarePants: Strawberry Riptide / Bikini Bottom Berry
- Batman: The Dark Knight: Original Flavors – Joker's Disappearing Pencil / Two-Face's Tutti Frutti
- iCarly: Cherry / Strawberry
- Wizards of Waverly Place: Cherry / Blueberry
Fizzix
- Strawberry Watermelon Rush / Blue Raspberry Rage
- Strawberry Lemonade Jolt / Wild Cherry Zing
- Triple Berry Fusion / Fruit Punch Charge
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]
Promotions
Some specially marked packages had a form where you could send in for a Tube Chiller with 2 UPCs. Offer expired 6/3/2011.[16]
Newer packages include a Tube Roller for rolling the tube up.[17]
References
- ↑ Yoplait – Products – Go-gurt
- ↑ Susan Squires and Bryan Byrne: Creating Breakthrough Ideas: The Collaboration of Anthropologists and Designers in the Product Development Industry. 2002. 239 pages.
- ↑ BYU NewsNet – "Fizzix" Carbonated Yogurt to Hit Stores
- ↑ BYU professor creates "fizzy yogurt" – ABC4.com
- ↑ – http://www.gogurtfizzix.com/ now redirects to http://www.gogurt.com
- ↑ Yoplait frubes Smoothie – Shake Up The Fun (2005) 0:30 (USA) | Adland
- ↑ Yoplait – Products – frubes
- ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2113148/Parents-fury-childrens-yoghurt-brand-Frubes-drops-genius-slogan.html
- ↑ http://adf.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/cattle/dairy/national-recall-of-yoplait-gogurt-and-yoplait-smackers/1239328.aspx
- ↑ http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q12155812462
- ↑ http://www.lifemadedelicious.ca/articles/y/yoplait-tubes-nutritional
- ↑ http://www.yoplait.co.uk/brand/frubes
- ↑ "Products – Gogurt". www.gogurt.com. Retrieved 2017-08-02.
- ↑ Prehistotubes, retrieved July 10, 2009
- ↑ "Grumpy Old 4th Graders Can't Understand Kids Today in Go-Gurt's Hilarious New Ads". Retrieved 2017-08-02.
- ↑ Tube Chiller Commercial
- ↑ Tube Rollers HD Commercial
External links
- Go-GURT website (USA)
- Canadian website (Yoplait Tubes)
- Official UK website (Frubes)
- Frubes page on Yoplait UK website
- Prehistotubes website
- Article regarding advertising strategies
- Official Australian Go-Gurt site