UGANDA – JESA FARM DAIRY, Uganda’s dairy company, has announced the launch of JESA BONGA, Uganda’s first ambient drinking yoghurt.
This new product, which has been in development for three years, is designed to provide a convenient yogurt option that remains shelf-stable at room temperature for up to six months without refrigeration or preservatives.
The product is available in recyclable, spill-proof bottles and comes in three flavors: Mango, Strawberry, and Coconut. Each bottle is designed to be portable and easy to consume on the go.
Dow Goodfolk designed the packaging of JESA BONGA, which features a bold fist symbol representing unity and convenience. The product also includes postbiotics, which benefit gut health and immunity.
The development of JESA BONGA addresses the growing demand for healthier, low-sugar varieties with fewer additives. The yogurt is made with minimal ingredients, focusing on milk and bacteria, and eliminates the need for additives often required due to mechanical processing.
JESA BONGA is intended to cater to busy lifestyles. It offers a yogurt option that does not require refrigeration, making it suitable for various environments. The introduction of this product marks a significant development in the dairy market, providing a new alternative to traditional chilled yogurt.
The introduction of JESA BONGA addresses the growing demand for healthier, low-sugar varieties with fewer additives. Consumers increasingly seek “clean label” products that appear entirely natural and are theoretically better for health.
Yoghurt, which primarily contains milk and bacteria, fits well within this trend. By eliminating the need for additives often required due to mechanical processing, JESA BONGA offers a simpler and more natural product.
Yoghurt manufacturers who design their processing lines to treat the product gently have a potential market edge because they remove additives from their recipes.
JESA BONGA’s minimalist ingredient approach aligns with consumer preferences for transparency about what is in their food and why those ingredients are there.
Yogurt is a centuries-old dairy product that offers numerous nutritional benefits. It is an excellent vehicle for probiotics that aid in lactose digestion, making it well-tolerated by people with lactose intolerance.
Additionally, yogurt contains ten essential nutrients: calcium, vitamin A, B12, and riboflavin. According to the 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines, yogurt can help protect against heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, some cancers, and Type 2 diabetes and contribute to stronger bones.
The production of high-quality, safe yogurt requires specialist processing knowledge. The type of milk, feeding and milking practices, and overall production processes significantly influence yogurt’s quality and safety characteristics.
Subscribe to our food and agriculture industry email newsletters that provide busy executives like you with the latest news insights and trends from Africa and the World. SUBSCRIBE HERE
