The frozen pizza space has seen a variety of entrants in recent years touting better-for-you offerings — from Banza’s crust made with chickpeas to Cappello’s keto, gluten-free dough. Founded by a group of childhood and college friends from New Jersey, the creators of Yough believe their new product has what it takes to break through the pack.
Launching today, Yough’s pizza dough is made with Greek yogurt. The brand touts it as a higher protein alternative in the frozen pizza aisle, with less calories and carbs, compared to products made with cauliflower and chickpeas. Each pizza contains 32 grams of protein, whereas Banza’s pizza only contains 17 grams.
Jason Miller, the company’s COO and co-founder, told Food Dive the group of creators began experimenting with Greek yogurt in dough when the “two ingredient dough” recipes trend went viral on social media during the pandemic. Each of them experienced health issues that required a change in diet, he said, and they prioritized making a more nutritious pizza that didn’t sacrifice flavor.
The company said its Greek yogurt ingredient’s postbiotics — the bacterial byproduct of prebiotics and probiotics that some health experts tout for their gut health benefits — will help it appeal to consumers looking for greater health benefits in their frozen meals.
“We knew two-ingredient dough was taking off, but felt there had to be an easier way for consumers to enjoy it while also making it cleaner and more delicious,” Miller said.
Yough’s three frozen pizza items.
Courtesy of Yough
The ingredient list for the pizzas includes Greek yogurt sourced from Wisconsin farms, organic wheat flour, tomatoes and cheese. The pizza is available in three varieties: cheese, turkey pepperoni and a naked crust that consumers can add their own toppings to. The company also offers a ready-to-bake dough for reimagining all types of snacks.
The brand is initially launching its pizzas direct-to-consumer on its website, but has its sights on a national retail launch later this year.
Miller told Food Dive once it builds out pizza, the company hopes to launch more baked products using Greek yogurt, including bagels, pretzels and cinnamon rolls.
“We’re starting with frozen pizzas and dough, but Yough’s ultimate goal is to continue pushing the boundaries of what comfort food can be, while prioritizing health and flavor,” Miller said.
Greek yogurt, popularized by category leader Chobani in the late 2000s, gained prominence for its high amount of protein and lower carbs compared to traditional yogurt. Recipes for two-ingredient pizza made with Greek yogurt exist online, but Yough’s appears to be the first to arrive at retail.
