New Zealanders are going coconuts for Australasia’s first dairy-free coconut milk yoghurt, CO YO, and recently the company shipped it's largest consignment of product to these shores.

The brain child of Kiwi citizens Henry and Sandra Gosling, the award-winning CO YO Coconut Milk Yoghurt Alternative is made with 88 percent organic coconut milk and is free of dairy, soy and gluten, with no added sugar.

The couple, in their late-sixties, are now based in Queensland, Australia, but travel frequently to New Zealand to personally oversee their trans-Tasman operations.

“We’ve been struggling to keep up with demand since we started exporting to New Zealand in August last year,” said Mr Gosling.

“We are selling around five times more yoghurt than we were just nine months ago and our stockist network now spans both the North and South Islands.

“The market has really come to us – much of our success has been through word-of-mouth,” he said.

Mr Gosling said CO YO was proving popular not only with people who are dairy and gluten intolerant, but also with sugar-avoiders and health conscious consumers, with its ‘good’ medium-chain fats and immune-boosting lauric acid, similar to that found in mother’s milk.

“Health benefits aside, our feedback suggests a lot of customers are choosing CO YO as a gourmet yoghurt alternative simply because they love the unique taste. 

“Even restaurants are jumping on board and offering it as a dairy-free alternative on their menu, or using its distinctive flavour and silky texture to create something special,” Mr Gosling said.

The success of CO YO has also caught the attention of international investors, with licensees in the United Kingdom and the United States helping to grow the start-up into a global brand.

“It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come since I was first struck with the idea to make dairy-free yoghurt with coconut milk nearly five years ago,” Mr Gosling said.

“What started as a series of experiments in our home kitchen has now evolved into an international business and we couldn’t be more proud,” he said.

Wife Sandra added, “It is a far cry from milking cows in Matamata!”

CO YO won the Richard Joel Award for Emerging Exporter of the Year at the prestigious Premier of Queensland’s Export Awards last month. The product is available in health food stores and selected independent grocers across New Zealand. Visit www.coyo.co.nz.