The Dannon Company just received a big award. It’s the 2006 Processor of the Year, which is awarded by Dairy Foods.

The Dannon Company is one of two yogurt companies to have been named Processor of the Year since the award’s inception in 1983 – the other being Stonyfield Farm, which is also a subsidiary of Groupe Danone and which was acknowledged with the award in 2003. Dairy Foods presents the award annually to a dairy processor that demonstrates extraordinary recent or long-term accomplishments.

For Dannon, 2006 has marked a strong year in the U.S., including the launch of Activia™, the first and only probiotic lowfat yogurt available in the U.S. that is clinically proven to help naturally regulate your digestive system in two weeks when eaten daily, as part of a healthy and balanced diet, and the introduction of Light & Fit Crave Control™, the only reduced-sugar nonfat yogurt made with fruit, cereal and ProteinFiberPlus™, to help satisfy hunger. Activia has surpassed $100 million in net sales in the U.S since its launch in January 2006, a feat less than one tenth of one percent of all new products reach in their first year in the U.S.