Horizon Organic Holding

What Horizon Organic Holding does

Horizon Organic Dairy, LLC is a U.S.-based certified organic dairy producer and wholly owned subsidiary of Danone North America. Founded in 1991 in Boulder, Colorado and now headquartered in Broomfield, the company pioneered the organic dairy category as the first organic dairy brand sold nationwide in the United States. Its product portfolio includes certified organic fluid milk (whole, 2%, 1%, fat-free), lactose-free milk, DHA Omega-3 milk, grassfed milk, the Growing Years® pediatric line co-developed with pediatricians, organic cheese, butter, half & half, heavy whipping cream, Real Dairy Coffee Creamers, and shelf-stable single-serve milk boxes. All products are USDA Organic certified and sourced from a network of more than 500 certified organic family farms with partner-farm herds averaging roughly 90 cows and a 120-day minimum pasture-grazing requirement.

Technology centers on conventional organic dairy processing with notable specialization in UHT pasteurization for shelf-stable Tetra Pak packaging, lactase enzyme processing for lactose-free SKUs, and vegetarian algal-oil DHA Omega-3 fortification. The Maple Hill Creamery acquisition (November 2025) adds American Grassfed Association-certified 100% grass-fed organic dairy supply and regenerative agriculture positioning. Additional certifications include Kosher (Orthodox Union) for Growing Years and B Corp certification held since 2018 as part of Danone North America.

Horizon generates revenue through one-time retail sales of packaged dairy SKUs distributed nationwide through major supermarket chains and online grocery channels. Go-to-market is consumer packaged goods: multi-channel marketing across owned social (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest), content/recipe hubs, email newsletter, industry events such as Natural Products Expo West, and paid national brand campaigns (e.g., the January 2026 'Kind of Amazing' launch with advertising agency Duncan Channon). End consumer segments are families with children (Growing Years) and health-conscious adults (lactose-free, grassfed, regenerative). Headcount is reported at 51–100 employees, with the company operating as a brand-led subsidiary whose mission also includes measurable environmental outcomes — 60,000+ acres in regenerative agriculture and 8,374 fewer tons of CO2e reported.

Name

Horizon Organic Holding

Legal name

Horizon Organic Dairy, LLC

Website

https://horizon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Horizon Organic Dairy, a Danone North America subsidiary, produces certified organic fluid milk and refrigerated dairy products across the United States. Founded in 1991 as the nation's first nationwide organic dairy brand, the company serves families and health-conscious consumers from a 500+ organic family farm network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Dairy Products

NAICS

Fluid Milk Manufacturing (311511), Dairy Product (except Frozen) Manufacturing (31151), Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Organic & Specialty-Claim Fluid Milk Processing (Organic, A2, Grass-Fed) (AFAHAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Organic Packaged Foods Manufacturing (Certified Organic, Clean-Label) (AFAKAJAA), Fluid Milk & Cream Beverages (Whole/Skim, Half-and-Half) (AFAFAEAA)

Keywords

• Organic dairy products
• Organic fluid milk
• Shelf-stable milk boxes
• Organic coffee creamers
• Pediatric organic milk

Headquarters

HQ city

Broomfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Organic Dairy Product Sales: Horizon Organic generates revenue through the sale of organic dairy products including milk, cheese, butter, creamers, half & half, and whipping cream through retail grocery channels nationwide

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Horizon Organic Holding produces, processes, and markets certified organic fluid milk and refrigerated dairy products, including whole, reduced fat, lowfat, and fat-free milk, shelf-stable milk boxes, organic dairy coffee creamers, organic cheese, butter, half & half, and heavy whipping cream, sourced from over 500 certified organic family farms in the United States.

Product overview

Horizon Organic is a certified organic dairy company that pioneered organic dairy in the United States since 1991, operating as part of Horizon Organic Dairy, LLC under Danone North America. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of organic dairy products including fluid milk (in whole, reduced fat, lowfat, and fat-free varieties), specialized Growing Years® milk for children with DHA Omega-3 and prebiotics, lactose-free milk options, grassfed milk, and shelf-stable milk boxes. The product line extends to organic creamers, cheese, butter, half & half, and heavy whipping cream. All products are sourced from over 500 certified organic family farms across the United States, with cows required to graze on pasture at least 120 days per year. The company is B Corp certified and operates from headquarters in Broomfield, Colorado.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Growing Years®: Organic milk product line developed with pediatricians for growing kids, featuring DHA Omega-3, choline, and prebiotics.

Products and services

• Organic Milk Certified USDA organic fluid milk available in whole, reduced fat (2%), lowfat (1%), and fat-free varieties, sourced from pasture-raised cows grazing at least 120 days per year on organic pasture.
• Organic Milk Boxes Shelf-stable single-serve organic milk in aseptic packaging, available in chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and plain flavors, providing 8g protein per serving for on-the-go consumption.
• Organic Real Dairy Coffee Creamer Real dairy coffee creamer made with four organic ingredients (organic milk, cream, cane sugar, and natural flavors), available in Homestyle Vanilla, Chantilly Sweet Cream, and Golden Caramel varieties.
• Growing Years® Organic Milk for Kids Organic milk specially formulated for children, developed with pediatricians, delivering DHA Omega-3 (50mg), choline (55mg), prebiotics (1g), calcium, and vitamin D per serving.
• Organic Lactose-Free Milk Real organic milk with lactose removed using lactase enzyme processing, available in whole and reduced fat varieties for consumers with lactose sensitivity.
• Organic Grassfed Milk Organic milk from cows fed exclusively on grass and forage, certified by the American Grassfed Association, available in whole and reduced fat varieties.
• Organic DHA Omega-3 Milk Organic milk fortified with vegetarian DHA Omega-3 (32mg per serving) sourced from algal oil, supporting brain and eye health.
• Organic Cheese Organic cheese including American singles and mozzarella string cheese, made without animal rennet using microbial enzymes and colored with annatto.
• Organic Butter Organic butter made from sweet cream of pasture-raised cows, available in salted and unsalted varieties.
• Organic Half & Half Organic half & half for coffee and recipes, ultra-pasteurized for extended shelf life.
• Organic Heavy Whipping Cream Organic heavy whipping cream for whipping or recipes, stabilized with Gellan Gum for consistency.
• Organic Instant Dry Whole Milk Organic powdered milk in instant dry whole milk format.
• Organic No Added Sugar Lactose Free 1% Lowfat Milk Box Shelf-stable single-serve milk box with no added sugar and lactose-free formulation, containing 8g protein and 25% daily value calcium per serving.

Quantifiable outcome

• Regenerative agriculture practices resulted in 8,374 fewer tons of CO2e equivalent
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Duncan ChannoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Horizon Organic partnered with advertising agency Duncan Channon to support the launch of Real Dairy Coffee Creamers with a new campaign called 'Kind of Amazing.' The agency developed creative marketing materials for the product launch.
• Maple Hill CreamerycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Horizon Organic Dairy acquired Maple Hill Creamery in November 2025. The acquisition represents a significant expansion of Horizon's 100% grass-fed organic dairy portfolio. Maple Hill Creamery celebrated National 100% Grass-Fed Organic Dairy Day with Horizon Organic in April 2026, highlighting regenerative farming practices, soil health, and animal welfare supported by small family farms.
• Kids Beverage MarketminorOthersHorizon Organic products compete in the growing kids' beverage market projected to reach $145.24 billion by 2033, driven by rising parental health consciousness and demand for organic beverages.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Danone: Global dairy and plant-based food conglomerate (parent of Horizon Organic, Stonyfield, Silk, and others). Relevant as both ultimate parent and broadest incumbent comp for portfolio-level strategic context.
• HP Hood: Privately held U.S. dairy processor owning Lactaid, Hood, and Friendly's brands; a multi-brand incumbent directly comparable in lactose-free and fluid-milk processing where Horizon competes.
• Nestlé USA: Global CPG incumbent with significant U.S. dairy exposure (coffee creamers, fluid milk adjacent products, and nutrition). Comparable as a broad-portfolio incumbent competing for shelf space and household occasions.

Others

• 365 by Whole Foods Market: Whole Foods' private-label brand including USDA-certified organic milk; not a direct competitor but a price-anchored comparable that constrains Horizon's pricing power on the organic shelf.

Emerging players

• Lactaid: HP Hood-owned brand dominating the lactose-free milk category using lactase-enzyme processing — the same technical approach Horizon uses for its organic lactose-free line. Direct competitive overlap in the lactose-free SKU set.
• Silk: Danone-owned plant-based beverage leader (almond, oat, soy milk). Competes with Horizon for the same refrigerator real estate and breakfast/coffee occasions; relevant adjacent comparison for category-share dynamics.

Direct peers

• Organic Valley: Largest U.S. organic farmer-owned dairy cooperative; sells certified organic fluid milk, butter, cheese, and cream across the same grocery channel as Horizon. Directly comparable on product portfolio, USDA-organic positioning, and farmer-partner supply model.
• Stonyfield Farm: Organic yogurt and dairy brand also owned by Danone, making it a sister brand under common ownership. Comparable on organic certification, B Corp positioning, and premium natural-channel distribution.
• Shamrock Farms: Family-owned U.S. dairy producer notable for shelf-stable single-serve flavored milk (Rockin' Protein) and refrigerated fluid milk — a direct comp on shelf-stable milk boxes and private-label dairy manufacturing.

Regional players

• Kemps: Upper-Midwest regional dairy processor (fluid milk, ice cream, cultured products) competing on grocery shelves with Horizon in conventional and select organic lines. Comparable on processing and retail relationships but conventional-led.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Horizon
• Instagraminstagram.com/horizonorganic
• Pinterestpinterest.com/horizonorganic
• Xx.com/horizon_organic

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Horizon Organic Holding