ATLANTA – Authentic Mediterranean labneh maker Yaza revealed it has a new distribution partner, with two of its flavors arriving at select Whole Foods Market locations.
Yaza’s Za'atar & Olive Oil flavor, as well as its Plain variety, may be found in the refrigerated dip or deli departments at the national retailer.
"I'm incredibly proud that our national launch in Whole Foods Market stores will introduce Yaza's authentic Mediterranean labneh to American kitchens," said Karim Khalil, Yaza’s founder.
The company noted traditional labneh recipes involve straining pasteurized cultured milk and salt – the only ingredients – through a cheesecloth overnight. The process removes liquids and creates a thick dip. Yaza said it recreates that exact recipe at scale, using whole milk from a creamery in the Catskill Mountains.
"You'll never find thickeners or additives in our labneh,” Khalil said. “We make it the way people in the Mediterranean have been making it for centuries, and that will never change.”
Yaza also noted that labneh contains probiotics that are associated with promoting gut health.
The company recommended spreading its labneh flavors on warm pita bread, using it as a dip for vegetables, layering it in wraps, or mixing it into a salad dressing.
Earlier in 2024, Yaza began extending its distribution reach by adding West Coast retail partners.