Danone

Danone is a multinational food and beverage company headquartered in Paris, France. The company was founded in Barcelona, Spain in 1919 and is named after its founder, Isaac Carasso's son, Daniel. Danone's products include dairy and plant-based yogurts, bottled water, baby food, and medical nutrition products.

Danone operates in more than 120 countries and has over 100,000 employees worldwide. The company's mission is to bring health through food to as many people as possible, and it is committed to sustainable and responsible business practices.

Danone has four main business units: Essential Dairy and Plant-Based (EDP), Waters, Early Life Nutrition, and Medical Nutrition. Some of the well-known brands under Danone include Activia, Danone, Evian, Volvic, Aptamil, and Nutricia.

Danone is committed to sustainability and has set several ambitious goals in this area, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and using 100% recyclable packaging by 2025. The company is also committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion and has set targets for gender diversity in leadership positions.

Danone has received recognition for its sustainability efforts, including being named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and receiving an A rating on the CDP Climate Change A List. The company has also received recognition for its commitment to social responsibility, including being named one of the World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute.

In recent years, Danone has undergone some changes, including a leadership transition in 2020, as well as a strategic shift to focus more on its EDP business unit and divest from some of its non-core businesses.

Danone, the multinational food-products corporation, was founded in 1919 by Isaac Carasso in Barcelona, Spain. The company was originally named "Danone" after Carasso's son Daniel, who was nicknamed "Danon." Danone's early years were focused on producing yoghurt, which was then an unfamiliar food in Europe. Isaac Carasso had learned about the health benefits of yoghurt while living in Bulgaria, and he wanted to introduce it to the Western world.

The first Danone factory was set up in 1920 in Barcelona, and within a few years, the company began to expand throughout Europe. In 1929, Danone established a factory in Paris, France, and by the 1930s, the company was selling yoghurt across Europe.

During the 1940s, Danone faced many challenges due to the outbreak of World War II. The war disrupted the company's supply chains and made it difficult to source the raw materials needed to produce yoghurt. However, Danone was able to adapt to these challenges and continued to operate throughout the war years.

One of the biggest challenges Danone faced during this time was a shortage of milk, which was a key ingredient in yoghurt production. To overcome this, the company began experimenting with alternative sources of milk, such as soy milk and powdered milk. Danone also worked to develop new methods of production that required less milk, such as making yoghurt from concentrated milk.

Another challenge for Danone during the 1940s was a shortage of sugar. This was a crucial ingredient in the fruit-flavoured yoghurts that were becoming popular at the time. To address this, Danone began using natural sweeteners such as honey and fruit juice instead of sugar.

Despite these challenges, Danone continued to innovate and develop new products during the 1940s. In 1942, the company introduced a new type of yoghurt that was specially formulated for children. This yoghurt was made with added vitamins and minerals to help support children's growth and development. 

In 1947, Danone expanded into new markets by opening a factory in Italy. This marked the beginning of the company's expansion into other European countries. The Italian factory produced a range of dairy products, including yoghurt, cheese, and cream

In the early 1950s, Danone began to produce other dairy products besides yoghurt, such as cheese and cream. The company also started to develop its own packaging materials to ensure that its products were fresh and of high quality. Danone's commitment to quality and innovation helped it to maintain its position as a leader in the dairy industry.

One of Danone's most significant innovations during this period was the introduction of baby food. In 1959, the company launched its first line of baby food, which was made from high-quality, natural ingredients. Danone's baby food products quickly became popular, and the company expanded its offerings to include a range of infant formulas and baby cereals.

During the 1960s, Danone continued to expand globally, entering new markets in South America and Asia. The company opened new factories in countries such as Brazil, Mexico, and Indonesia, and began to tailor its products to the local tastes and preferences of these markets.

In addition to its expansion into new markets, Danone also continued to innovate with new products. In 1967, the company launched its first non-dairy product, a fruit-flavoured drink called "Fruity." This marked a new direction for Danone, as the company began to explore other product categories beyond dairy. 

Also in 1967, the wholly-owned and controlled family firm ended at the beginning of the year when Danone was interested to merge with Gervais and later BSN. From its merger with other two leading firms in the industry, Danone becomes a multinational and a Global Brand, which is still among the top brand today.

On December 1973, the merger of the two companies is announced. The company merged with Gervais Danone and began to expand internationally. In 1981, the company launched its first probiotic yoghurt in Europe under the brand name Actimel. This yoghurt was formulated with live cultures of beneficial bacteria to help support digestive health.

During the 1980s, Danone continued to expand globally, acquiring new companies and entering new markets. In 1981, the company acquired the Dutch dairy company Nutricia, which helped it to expand its presence in Europe. Danone also entered the North American market by acquiring the American yoghurt company Dannon in 1981.

In addition to its expansion into new markets, Danone also continued to innovate with new products and technologies. In 1986, the company introduced its first PET plastic yoghurt container, which was more lightweight and environmentally friendly than traditional packaging materials.

In 1994, the company launched its first functional yoghurt under the brand name "DanActive" in Canada, which contained probiotics and was marketed as a product that could help support immune system health. This product was later introduced in other markets under different brand names, such as "Actimel" and "Dairy Drink".

In 1996, Franck Riboud succeeded his father, Antoine, as the company’s chairman and chief executive officer when Riboud senior retired.

In 2001, the company acquired the French bottled water company Evian and established a new division, Danone Waters, to oversee its bottled water business. As well, this year, the company established its "Danone Way" program, which aimed to promote sustainable practices throughout its entire supply chain. This program focused on areas such as sustainable agriculture, energy and water efficiency, and waste reduction.

In 2007, Danone launched its "Danone Communities" initiative, which aimed to support social entrepreneurship and address poverty in developing countries. This initiative focused on providing financing and technical assistance to small-scale farmers and entrepreneurs, as well as supporting projects that promote sustainable development. In July 2007, it was announced that Danone had reached an agreement with Kraft to sell its biscuits division, including the LU and Prince brands, for around €5.3 billion.

In 2012, Danone Group got more bad financial exposure than its rivals more than half of Danone's sales came from Europe and about 38 percent came from West Europe. The next year, in mid-February, Danone Group announced to cut 900 jobs or about 3.3 percent of their 27,000 Europe workforce.

In 2016, the company acquired the American plant-based food company WhiteWave, which produces brands such as Silk and So Delicious. This acquisition helped Danone to expand its plant-based offerings and strengthen its position in the fast-growing plant-based market.

In addition to its focus on sustainability and plant-based products, Danone has also continued to innovate with new product launches. In 2018, the company launched its first range of organic infant formula under the brand name "Louise," which is produced using regenerative agriculture practices.

Danone has expanded its digital capabilities and reached consumers through e-commerce channels. In 2020, the company launched a new direct-to-consumer platform in France called "DanOn," which allows customers to purchase Danone products online. 

Danone has set ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase the use of renewable energy, and promote sustainable farming practices. The company has also pledged to make all of its packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable by 2025.

“Bringing health through food to as many people as possible.”

“For a century, we’ve been faithful to his original purpose, selling healthy, delicious products tailored to the nutritional needs and eating habits of our consumers. Essential Dairy and Plant-Based Products, Waters, Early Life Nutrition and Medical Nutrition–all of our ranges share the same goal: offering innovative, top-quality products that meet the expectations of consumers at every stage of life.”

“In 2017, Danone unveiled a refreshed logo and its very first company signature: 

One Planet. One Health. 

These words reflect our vision that the health of people and the health of the planet are interconnected. It is a call to action for all consumers and everyone who has a stake in food to join the food revolution: a movement aimed at nurturing the adoption of healthier, more sustainable eating and drinking habits.”