Reaching for the skyr

Skyr, a dairy product produced in Iceland, is now available at 197 Waitrose stores all over the UK. Icelandic Skyr is produced by MS Iceland Dairies, a dairy cooperative owned by 600 Icelandic dairy farmers.

Until a few years ago, Skyr was only available in Iceland. This has changed dramatically in recent years and Skyr is now sold in all the Nordic countries as well as the US, Switzerland, Ireland and now the UK.

Skyr has been a staple food in Icelandic households for over a thousand years, when the first settlers came to Iceland. It is even mentioned in the Icelandic Sagas, according to MS Iceland. Skyr is still enjoyed daily by Icelanders and thousands of others around the world, renowned for its high protein content and smooth texture.

Jón Axel Pétursson, SVP sales and marketing at MS Iceland Dairies says, “I believe the reason Skyr has remained popular throughout the generations, with both children and adults, is due to its versatility and nutritional qualities, combined with its creamy, decadent taste. It is a superfood that is naturally fat-free, high in calcium and rich in protein, which keeps you full and satisfied”.

Icelandic Skyr is made from milk farmed in the fresh green pastures near the Arctic Circle, where the water is pure and the nature unspoilt. The processing technique is based on the original principles, using the traditional recipe and milk from the same cow breed: the colourful settlement cow.