Here's the deal: Danone, a leader in nutrition science and innovation, is now the Big Ten Conference's first official partner for yogurt and plant-based beverages, featuring Danone's Oikos and Silk brands.

• The multi-year partnership will leverage the power of sports and college communities to bring health through food via Oikos and Silk to students, athletes and fans across the U.S.

Why it's important: The Big Ten is one of the nation's top academic and athletic programs, home to 14,000 student athletes, 580,000 students and millions of fans. Gen Z is reshaping healthy — seeking food that fuels performance and purpose.

Big Ten student-athletes need reliable, high-quality fuel and Danone's Oikos and Silk brands deliver with science-backed, high-protein options.

Why now: As the conference's first yogurt and plant-based beverages partner, Danone will make these products more accessible across campuses to support training, recovery and everyday wellness.

📊 Key numbers: Gen Z, student-athletes and nutrition

• College athletes show major nutrition-knowledge gaps, scoring around 50% on sports-nutrition assessments, underscoring the need for guidance.
• 51% of Gen Zers are actively trying to boost their protein intake, turning protein into a "must-have" across categories. As the #1 high-protein yogurt brand, Oikos is a natural fit.
• 60% of Gen Zers look for brands that reflect their values, like sustainability and well-being Silk, the #1 plant-based beverage brand, meets those with plant-powered nutrition.

Next steps: Starting later this year, Danone will launch programs across Big Ten campuses that apply its nutrition science expertise through:

• Access: Expanding programs that deliver nutritious, affordable meals to more students.
• Campus collaboration: Partnering with university nutrition leaders to co-create programs that reflect real student needs.
• Brand experiences: Taking Oikos and Silk nutrition on campus through athletic events activations and retail promotions.
• Nutrition education: Creating programs and learning tools to help students build lifelong healthy habits.

An expert take: "Led by our world-class research and innovation team and nutrition scientists, by bringing Oikos and Silk to Big Ten campuses, we're providing nutrient-dense products that help students and athletes thrive — on campus and beyond," says Dan Magliocco, president, Danone North America. "This partnership extends Danone's global legacy of leveraging cutting-edge nutrition science and innovation to bring health through food to as many people as possible."

Here's what else: Danone and the Big Ten share strong geographic roots. Many of the company's farming partners and over half of its U.S. manufacturing sites — including its largest yogurt facility in Minster, Ohio which currently produces 2 million pounds of yogurt daily — overlap with Big Ten schools and communities, connecting local agriculture, student life and community health.

• "This partnership is not just about access, it's about fueling potential through better nutrition," says Dr. James Borchers, Big Ten Conference chief medical officer. "Together, we're helping students build lasting healthy habits."

The takeaway: Danone and the Big Ten are uniting the power of college sports with nutrition expertise to inspire healthier habits and stronger communities — reaching 18 universities and communities, 14,000 student-athletes and more than half a million students.

• As the first official yogurt and plant-based beverages partner, Danone is proud to help lead the charge toward a healthier future for students nationwide.

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