Danone

Danone is a French multinational food and beverage company headquartered in Paris and listed on Euronext Paris as a CAC 40 constituent. Its origins date to 1919, when Isaac Carasso began producing yogurt in Barcelona, Spain, using lactic cultures associated with research at the Institut Pasteur. The name Danone was derived from the Catalan nickname of Carasso’s son, Daniel. The product was initially sold through pharmacies and recommended by physicians, reflecting the company’s early association between fermented dairy products and digestive health. Daniel Carasso introduced the brand to France in 1929 and opened a factory near Paris in 1932. Danone gradually expanded from plain yogurt into fruit, smooth, and gelled varieties. The business merged with Fromageries Gervais in 1967, creating Gervais-Danone. In 1973, Gervais-Danone merged with Boussois-Souchon-Neuvesel, or BSN, a diversified French group that had moved from glass and packaging into food and beverages. The combined company became a major European food producer. During the 1970s and 1980s, BSN-Gervais-Danone and then BSN acquired or developed businesses in pasta, grocery products, beer, mineral water, infant food, prepared meals, and biscuits. Important additions included Evian, Badoit, Blédina, Kronenbourg, and Générale Biscuit, owner of LU. From the 1990s onward, the group increasingly emphasized international expansion and health-oriented food categories. In 1994, BSN adopted the name Groupe Danone, using its best-known consumer brand as the corporate identity. Under Franck Riboud, who led the company as chief executive from 1996 to 2014, Danone pursued a major portfolio refocusing. It sold many grocery, confectionery, packaging, brewing, and biscuit assets while expanding in fresh dairy, bottled water, infant nutrition, and medical nutrition. The 2007 acquisition of Numico significantly strengthened Danone’s infant and medical nutrition businesses, while the sale of its biscuit division to Kraft Foods marked the end of a large historic activity. Danone’s principal business areas are now dairy and plant-based products, specialized nutrition, and waters. Its portfolio includes brands such as Activia, Actimel, Danonino, Alpro, Silk, Evian, Volvic, Aptamil, Nutrilon, and Nutricia, although brand availability varies by market. The company sells products through retail, food-service, healthcare, pharmacy, and specialist nutrition channels. It operates internationally through a combination of wholly owned businesses, subsidiaries, partnerships, and licensed or locally adapted brands. Danone has also positioned itself around health, nutrition, environmental responsibility, and social impact. In 2020 it became the first listed company to adopt France’s société à mission status under the PACTE framework. Its current strategic identity combines consumer nutrition with specialized medical and infant nutrition, while maintaining a significant bottled-water business. Reference material describes a workforce of approximately 90,000 employees and more than 180 production sites; reported sales and segment shares should be treated as period-specific rather than permanent company characteristics.

Danone began in Barcelona in 1919, when Isaac Carasso established a small yogurt workshop responding to widespread digestive illness and interest in lactic-ferment research. The product was sold through pharmacies and supported by medical recommendations. Daniel Carasso later developed the French business, introducing Danone in 1929 and opening a production facility near Paris in 1932. Product innovation included fruit yogurt in the 1930s and later smooth and gelled formats. The corporate group expanded through successive combinations. Danone merged with Fromageries Gervais in 1967. In 1973, Gervais-Danone combined with BSN, whose chairman Antoine Riboud had transformed the company from a glass and packaging producer into a food and beverage group. The enlarged business acquired interests in pasta, grocery products, prepared foods, beverages, brewing, mineral water, infant food, and biscuits. It became one of France’s leading food companies. In the late 1970s and 1980s, the group divested flat-glass operations and built a broad European food portfolio. Acquisitions included Générale Biscuit, bringing LU into the group, and several European biscuit businesses formerly associated with Nabisco. In 1994, BSN changed its corporate name to Groupe Danone, reflecting the strength and international recognition of its yogurt brand. The 1990s and 2000s brought accelerated internationalization and portfolio rationalization. Danone expanded in Latin America, Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, and North America. It sold many grocery and confectionery brands, exited packaging and brewing, and later sold its biscuit business to Kraft Foods. The 2007 purchase of Numico added major infant and medical nutrition capabilities. Danone subsequently organized its activities around fresh dairy products, water, infant nutrition, and medical nutrition. The group experienced several important controversies and strategic challenges. In 2001, planned closures of LU factories caused a major French social and political backlash. Between 2006 and 2009, Danone disputed with its Chinese Wahaha partner over companies allegedly producing beverages outside the joint-venture structure; the disagreement ended with Danone’s withdrawal. The company has continued to adjust its portfolio toward health, plant-based foods, and specialized nutrition. In 2020, it adopted société à mission status, formally linking its corporate purpose to social and environmental objectives.

• 2020

  Adopts société à mission status

  [1]Danoneen.wikipedia.org

  Danone adopted the French société à mission legal status.

• 2009

  Wahaha separation

  [1]Danoneen.wikipedia.org

  Danone ended its Chinese Wahaha joint venture after a long-running dispute.

• 2007

  Numico acquisition and biscuit divestment

  [1]Danoneen.wikipedia.org

  Danone acquired Numico and sold its biscuit division to Kraft Foods.

• 2001

  LU restructuring controversy

  [1]Danoneen.wikipedia.org

  Planned European biscuit-factory closures led to protests and boycott campaigns.

• 1994

  Corporate name becomes Groupe Danone

  [1]Danoneen.wikipedia.org

  BSN adopted the Danone name as its international corporate identity.

• 1973

  Merger with BSN

  [1]Danoneen.wikipedia.org

  Gervais-Danone merged with BSN, creating BSN-Gervais-Danone.

• 1967

  Merger with Gervais

  [1]Danoneen.wikipedia.org

  Danone merged with Fromageries Gervais to form Gervais-Danone.

• 1932

  First French factory opens

  [1]Danoneen.wikipedia.org

  Danone opened a production facility in Levallois-Perret near Paris.

• 1929

  French business established

  [1]Danoneen.wikipedia.org

  Daniel Carasso launched the Danone brand in France.

• 1919

  Danone founded in Barcelona

  [1]Danoneen.wikipedia.org

  Isaac Carasso began producing yogurt in Barcelona under the Danone name.

A health- and nutrition-led food company combining everyday consumer products with specialized infant and medical nutrition, supported by sustainability and social-impact commitments.

• Dairy · 1987

  Activia

  A fermented yogurt brand positioned around digestive well-being. Activia has been sold in multiple formats and flavors, with formulations varying by market.

• Dairy · 1994

  Actimel

  A cultured dairy drink marketed as a convenient daily nutrition product. The brand is distributed internationally under locally adapted product and regulatory claims.

• Plant-based foods · 1980

  Alpro

  A plant-based brand offering beverages, yogurts, desserts, and other alternatives to dairy products, commonly based on soy, oats, almonds, or other plants.

• Bottled water · 1824

  Evian

  A premium bottled-water brand sourced from the Evian-les-Bains area in France. It is sold internationally through retail, hospitality, and food-service channels.

• Bottled water · 1958

  Volvic

  A bottled-water brand associated with volcanic-source water from the Auvergne region of France and sold in several international markets.

• Infant nutrition · 1968

  Aptamil

  An infant-nutrition brand offering formula and related early-life nutrition products in selected markets.

• Medical nutrition · 1896

  Nutricia

  A specialized-nutrition business and brand family serving medical, clinical, and life-stage nutrition needs through products distributed via healthcare and specialist channels.

• 2021

  Danone recalls three yogurt batches over possible metal pieces

  Danone took the precautionary step of recalling three batches of yogurt products because they may contain pieces of metal.

  Source

• 2001

  LU factory-closure controversy

  Danone’s planned closure of two profitable French biscuit factories and associated European job reductions provoked strikes, demonstrations, political criticism, and boycott calls. Related disputes over critical websites also produced legal proceedings, with a 2003 appeal decision emphasizing freedom of expression.

  Source

Read more

• 2001Boycott campaign over LU factory closures

  France

  Trade unions, elected officials, associations, and consumer groups organized protests and calls to boycott Danone products after planned closures and job losses in the biscuit business.

  Outcome. The campaign generated substantial media and political attention and affected Danone’s public image.

  Source
• 1998FIFA World Cup sponsorship

  International

  Danone served as an official dairy-products supplier for the FIFA World Cup and promoted Danone, Evian, and LU in connection with the event.

  Outcome. Expanded international visibility for several group brands.

  Source

• 2020

  Adopt société à mission statusStrategy

  Background

  France’s PACTE law created a framework for companies to incorporate a formal social and environmental purpose into their corporate identity.

  Action taken

  Danone adopted société à mission status, becoming the first listed company to do so in France.

  Aftermath

  The move formalized Danone’s health, social, and sustainability orientation within its governance framework.

  Source

• 2007

  Acquire NumicoM&A

  Background

  Danone sought to strengthen its position in infant and medical nutrition while refocusing away from biscuits and broader grocery categories.

  Action taken

  Danone acquired Dutch nutrition company Numico in a transaction reported at €12.3 billion.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition created a major specialized-nutrition pillar within Danone and was followed by the sale of the biscuit division to Kraft Foods.

  Transaction value. €12.3 billion (2007)

  Source

• 2021.11.16

  Reported2021.11.16

  Danone announces divestment of its Danish Aqua d’Or business[5]Danone宣布剥离其丹麦Aqua d’Or业务news.europawire.eu

  Danone announced the divestment of its water and beverage business in Denmark, Aqua d’Or, to Royal Unibrew. The transaction closing remains subject to customary conditions.

• 2021.10.12

  Reported2021.10.12

  Danone appoints ambassadors for YoPRO Perform[6]Danone任命YoPRO Perform品牌大使mumbrella.com.au

  Danone announced Jess Spendlove and Matt Poole as brand ambassadors for the launch of its YoPRO Perform range.

• Unconfirmed

  Reported2021.07.01

  Danone refreshes Oikos Greek yogurt[7]Danone 更新 Oikos 希腊酸奶ibtimes.com.au

  Danone is rebranding Oikos Greek yogurt with 50% more fruit, a creamier taste, and new white packaging with bold lettering. The article says the refreshed yogurt is expected to be available nationwide in July.

• 2021.05.20

  Reported2021.05.20

  Terviva and Danone begin food-product collaboration[8]Terviva与Danone开展食品产品合作prnewswire.com

  Terviva and Danone began a collaboration to develop food products using pongamia oil and plant protein.

• 2021.05.20

  Reported2021.05.21

  Nestlé, Danone and LEGO win JD 618 international brand awards[9]雀巢、达能和乐高荣获京东618国际品牌奖finance.sina.com.cn

  Nestlé, Danone and LEGO received the 2021 JD 618 “18th Anniversary Top Ten International Brands” award at a launch and trend conference held in Beijing.

• 2021.05.18

  Reported2021.05.18

  Danone appoints Antoine de Saint-Affrique as CEO[10]达能任命 Antoine de Saint-Affrique 为首席执行官dairyreporter.com

  Danone appointed Antoine de Saint-Affrique as CEO; he will succeed the joint interim leadership of Véronique Penchienati-Bosetta and Shane Grant.

• Unconfirmed

  Reported2021.03.28

  Danone recalls three yogurt batches over possible metal pieces[4]Danone recalls three yogurt batches over possible metal piecesbucksfreepress.co.uk

  Danone took the precautionary step of recalling three batches of yogurt products because they may contain pieces of metal.

• 2021.03.17

  Reported2021.03.17

  Danone announces Aptamil formula in pre-measured tabs[11]Danone宣布推出Aptamil预定量奶粉片thegrocer.co.uk

  Danone created a pre-measured tab format for its Aptamil baby formula and said it would roll out exclusively into Boots before a wider European rollout in 2022.

• 2021.03.15

  Reported2021.03.15

  Danone appoints Gilles Schnepp as board chairman[12]达能任命吉尔·施耐普为董事会主席finance.sina.com.cn

  Danone's board appointed Gilles Schnepp as board chairman, effective immediately.

• 2021.03.15

  Reported2021.03.15

  Danone chairman and CEO Emmanuel Faber resigns[12]达能任命吉尔·施耐普为董事会主席finance.sina.com.cn

  Danone announced that Emmanuel Faber would resign as chairman and chief executive officer.

Read more(21)

1. 1Danoneen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Danone corporate websitedanone.com
3. 3Danone governancedanone.com
4. 4Danone recalls three yogurt batches over possible metal piecesbucksfreepress.co.uk
5. 5Danone宣布剥离其丹麦Aqua d’Or业务news.europawire.eu
6. 6Danone任命YoPRO Perform品牌大使mumbrella.com.au
7. 7Danone 更新 Oikos 希腊酸奶ibtimes.com.au
8. 8Terviva与Danone开展食品产品合作prnewswire.com
9. 9雀巢、达能和乐高荣获京东618国际品牌奖finance.sina.com.cn
10. 10达能任命 Antoine de Saint-Affrique 为首席执行官dairyreporter.com
11. 11Danone宣布推出Aptamil预定量奶粉片thegrocer.co.uk
12. 12达能任命吉尔·施耐普为董事会主席finance.sina.com.cn
13. 13达能同意收购Earth Islanddomain-b.com
14. 14Danone improves Dumex Dugro growing-up milk formuladairyreporter.com
15. 15达能韦克斯福德工厂获得碳中和认证bioenergy-news.com
16. 16爱他美服务接入小米育儿平台finance.sina.com.cn
17. 17达能延期脉动品牌升级计划finance.sina.com.cn
18. 18达能下调2020年业绩指引thegrocer.co.uk
19. 19达能宣布推出 Track & Connect 服务nutraingredients.com
20. 20Track & Connect应用于中国市场的Nutrilonfoodnavigator.com
21. 21达能与 rePlant Capital 合作支持可持续农业bizwest.com
22. 22Danone and The Ocean Cleanup partner on river plastic removaledie.net
23. 23达能2020年营收下滑1.5%至236亿欧元，中国市场第四季度恢复增长finance.sina.com.cn
24. 24Danone withdraws 2020 guidance but Q1 sales riserte.ie