Silk (brand) facts for kids
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A glass of Oat yeah! Silk oat milk
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| Type | Plant milk |
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| Owner | Danone (2017–pres.) |
| Country | U.S. |
| Introduced | 1977 |
| Markets | North America |
| Previous owners |
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Silk is a popular American brand that makes drinks and foods from plants. These products are great for people who want alternatives to dairy products. Silk makes soy milk, almond milk, oat milk, and even plant-based yogurts. The company is currently owned by Danone, which bought WhiteWave Foods in 2016.
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The Story of Silk
The company that started Silk was called WhiteWave Foods. It began in Boulder, Colorado, in 1977. Steve Demos founded the company, and it first focused on products made from soy, like tofu.
The very first Silk product was introduced in March 1996. It was shown at a big food event in Anaheim, California. After that, Silk quickly became a very successful brand around the world. It was known for its organic food products.
Changes in Ownership
In 2002, WhiteWave, Inc. was sold to a company called Dean Foods. This sale was for more than $300 million. Silk's sales grew a lot, reaching $350 million in yearly earnings by 2005. As the business grew, Silk became the biggest buyer of organic, Non-GMO soybeans in North America. Non-GMO means the soybeans are not genetically modified.
In January 2010, Silk introduced a new product called Silk Pure Almond. This was an almond milk, and it was their first product not made from soy.
In 2013, WhiteWave Foods became an independent company again. It separated from Dean Foods. Then, in July 2016, a large international company named Danone announced it would buy WhiteWave Foods. The deal was completed in April 2017. The new company was named "DanoneWave."
Silk's Good Deeds
Silk has won the Green Power Leadership Award five times. This award comes from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. It shows Silk's commitment to using clean energy.
Silk has also supported Farm Aid since 2002. Farm Aid helps family farmers in the United States. Silk is also part of the Soyfoods Association of North America (SANA). This group shares information about how healthy soy products are.
Silk's Product Quality
In 2009, there were some questions about Silk's products. Some reports suggested that Silk might have switched from using organic soybeans to regular soybeans. This happened without clearly telling stores or customers. However, Silk has always stated that it gets all its soybeans from North America.
To make sure customers know what they are getting, Silk has taken steps. All of its products are now part of the Non-GMO Project's verification process. This means an independent group checks to make sure the products do not contain genetically modified ingredients.
What Silk Makes
As of August 2017[update]:
- Refrigerated Soy Milk: You can find flavors like Vanilla, Original, Chocolate, and Unsweetened. Some even have DHA Omega-3, which is good for your brain.
- Light Soy Milk: These are lighter versions in Original, Vanilla, and Chocolate.
- Shelf-Stable Soy Milk: These milks can be stored without refrigeration until opened. They come in Original, Vanilla, and Organic Unsweetened. There's even a special blend for Starbucks.
- Single-Serve Soy Milk: Small cartons of Very Vanilla and Chocolate, perfect for on-the-go.
- Specialty Soy Milk: Seasonal flavors like Pumpkin Spice, Nog (like eggnog), and Chocolate Mint.
- Dairy-Free Yogurt Alternative: These yogurts are made from almonds or soy. Flavors include Peach Almond, Strawberry Almond, Vanilla Almond, and many more.
- Creamer: Plant-based creamers for your coffee or tea. Flavors like Vanilla Soy, Original Soy, Hazelnut Soy, and different almond versions.
- Almond Milk: Popular flavors like Vanilla, Original, Dark Chocolate, and Unsweetened.
- Cashew Milk: Options include Original, Unsweetened, Unsweetened Vanilla, and Chocolate.
- Coconut Milk: Available in Vanilla, Original, and Unsweetened.
- Almond+Coconut Blend: A mix of almond and coconut milk in Original and Unsweetened.
- Protein Nut Milk: These milks have extra protein and come in Vanilla and Chocolate.
- Oat Yeah! OatMilk: Made from oats, with flavors like The Plain One, Vanilla, and Zero Sugar. There's also an Oatmeal Cookie Creamer.
See also
