DANONE
Danone is a Paris-listed global food and beverage company producing and distributing dairy, plant-based, water, and specialized nutrition products under brands such as Activia, Alpro, Silk, evian, AQUA, and YoPRO across 120+ countries, serving 1.5 billion consumers daily.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1919
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What DANONE does
Danone SA is a Paris-headquartered, publicly-listed global food and beverage company (Euronext Paris: BN) founded in 1919 in Barcelona that generated €27.3 billion in 2025 Group sales across three reportable segments: Essential Dairy & Plant-Based products (48%, €13.158B), Waters (18%, €4.8B), and Specialized Nutrition (34%). The company reaches 1.5 billion consumers daily through iconic brands including Activia, Actimel, Alpro, Silk, Danette, Danonino, International Delight, YoPRO, evian, AQUA, Volvic, Mizone, and Salus, distributed across 120+ countries with ~93% household penetration in France and relationships with 64,000+ farmers. Approximately 90,000 employees support manufacturing, research, and operations globally.
Danone's technology platform is anchored by 100+ years of proprietary fermentation expertise, including the exclusive L.casei Danone bacterial culture (discovered 1990) used in Actimel and the proprietary five-strain probiotic blend in Activia, developed through lower-temperature fermentation processes. The company operates dedicated research centers in Utrecht (Netherlands, breast milk and medical nutrition) and Paris-Saclay (France, opened 2023), staffed by 2,000 R&I experts who deliver ~900 new products and ~200 scientific publications annually. Sustainability technologies include Carbon Smart Bottle packaging with LanzaTech (6g recycled CO2 per bottle) and Mizone's carbon-neutral factories since 2023.
The revenue model centers on unit-priced packaged goods sold through a hybrid go-to-market: mass-market retail/grocery distribution for dairy, plant-based and water products; medical-representative-driven enterprise sales into healthcare providers for specialized nutrition (Early Life and Medical Nutrition, ranked No. 2 and No. 4 worldwide respectively); pharmacy channels for health-positioned functional dairy; foodservice/horeca for brands like International Delight; and direct-to-consumer e-commerce following the €1.15B acquisition of Huel (March 2026). The Renew Danone strategy launched in 2022 anchors the current portfolio pivot toward health-focused nutrition and functional categories, with the Huel and MADE Group (A$2B, June 2026) acquisitions expected to be accretive to operating margin and EPS from year one.
DANONE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DANONE
- Legal name
- Danone SA
- Website
- https://danone.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1919
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Danone is a Paris-listed global food and beverage company producing and distributing dairy, plant-based, water, and specialized nutrition products under brands such as Activia, Alpro, Silk, evian, AQUA, and YoPRO across 120+ countries, serving 1.5 billion consumers daily.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DANONE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Food and Beverage
- NAICS
- Soft Drink and Ice Manufacturing (31211), Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing (325411)
- SIC
- Food And Kindred Products (2000), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Refrigerated Dips & Spreads (Cream Cheese, Hummus, Salsa, Guacamole) (CRADACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Condition-Specific Bioactives (Glucosamine/Chondroitin, Plant Sterols, Melatonin, Lutein/Zeaxanthin) (AFAJAKAK)
Keywords
Where DANONE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices9 records
Markets served
DANONE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Essential Dairy & Plant-Based Products: Global leader in fresh dairy and plant-based products with iconic brands including Activia, Actimel, Alpro, Danette, Danone, Danonino, International Delight, Silk, and YoPRO. Products sold in over 120 countries. Generated €13.158 billion in sales in 2025 (48% of Group sales).
- Waters: World's second largest packaged waters business with brands including AQUA, evian, Mizone, Salus, Volvic, Żywiec Zdrój, Bonafont, Font Vella, and Hayat. Generated €4.8 billion in sales in 2025 (18% of Group sales).
- Specialized Nutrition: Specialized Nutrition includes Early Life Nutrition and Medical Nutrition products. No. 2 worldwide in early life nutrition and No. 4 in adult medical nutrition. Generated 34% of Group sales in 2025.
- Functional Nutrition (via Acquisitions): Danone is expanding into functional nutrition through acquisitions like Huel (meal replacement) and MADE Group (high-protein products). These acquisitions bring direct-to-consumer digital platforms and expand presence in growing health-focused nutrition categories.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium products (evian, Activia, Alpro) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mass-market products (AQUA, basic dairy) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Medical/Specialized Nutrition |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
DANONE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Danone is a global food and beverage company that produces, markets, and distributes dairy and plant-based products, bottled water, and specialized nutrition (infant, medical, and adult) under multiple regional and global brands. It operates three reportable segments — Essential Dairy & Plant-Based, Waters, and Specialized Nutrition — selling branded packaged food and beverage products to retailers, foodservice operators, and healthcare providers in over 120 countries.
Product overview
DANONE is a world-leading food and beverage company organized into three core business segments: Essential Dairy & Plant-Based products (48% of sales, €13.158bn), Waters (18% of sales, €4.8bn), and Specialized Nutrition (34% of sales). The Essential Dairy & Plant-Based portfolio includes global brands Activia, Actimel, Alpro, Danette, Danone, Danonino, International Delight, Silk, and YoPRO. The Waters segment features global brands evian, Volvic, and regional brands AQUA, Mizone, Salus, and others. Specialized Nutrition covers early life and medical nutrition. In 2026, DANONE acquired plant-based meal replacement company Huel and Australian health-food company MADE Group to expand in functional nutrition. The company generated €27.3 billion in sales in 2025 with operations in over 120 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Activia: Dairy brand dedicated to supporting digestive wellbeing for over 35 years, offering products packed with billions of probiotics and calcium.
- Actimel
- Alpro
- Danette
- Danone (yogurt brand)
- Danonino
- International Delight
- Silk
- YoPRO
- AQUA
- evian
- Mizone
- Volvic
- Salus
Products and services
- Essential Dairy & Plant-Based Products
- Waters
- Specialized Nutrition
- evian (natural mineral water)
- Volvic (natural mineral water)
- Alpro (plant-based foods & beverages)
- Activia (probiotic yogurt)
- Aptamil (infant formula)
- Nutricia (medical nutrition)
Quantifiable outcome
- 89% of Danone products sold belong to healthy categories
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use DANONE
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
DANONE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature4 records
DANONE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Livelihoods FundscoreDanone is a founding partner of Livelihoods Carbon Fund 4 (€150 million fund for nature-based climate solutions), with €124 million raised at first close. Fund aims to sequester 7-10 million tons of CO₂ over 25 years. Danone helped create Livelihoods in 2011 through its nature-focused fund, with 47 projects to date planting 160 million trees.
- MADE GroupcoreDanone agreed to acquire Australia's MADE Group (health-focused food and beverage company with high-protein drinks, gut-health yogurts, coconut-based products) for approximately A$2 billion. MADE Group generates over €300 million in annual sales with consistent double-digit growth and operations across Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. Transaction expected to close H2 2026.
- Saputo Dairy AustraliacoreDanone to acquire the remaining 49% stake in its Australian fresh dairy joint venture with Saputo Dairy Australia, increasing ownership to 100%. The joint venture operates production facilities in Kiewa, Victoria and distributes dairy products nationwide. ACCC reviewing the transaction.
- HuelcoreDanone agreed to acquire Huel (UK-based plant-based meal replacement company) for approximately €1 billion. Huel sells powdered and ready-to-drink meal products through direct-to-consumer model, targeting health-conscious consumers. Deal aims to expand Danone's presence in health-focused nutrition through Huel's digital and product offerings.
- B Lab (B Corporation)coreDanone achieved B Corp certification in 2025 and collaborates with B Lab on corporate accountability and purpose-driven business standards. Key impact partner for sustainability governance.
- Ellen MacArthur FoundationcoreKey impact partner working on circular economy initiatives. Danone collaborates on packaging sustainability and circular business model innovation.
- Environmental Defense FundcoreKey impact partner for environmental advocacy and sustainability policy engagement. Collaborates on climate action and environmental protection initiatives.
- Global Methane HubcoreKey impact partner supporting Danone's methane reduction commitments including first food company commitment to Global Methane Pledge (-30% absolute methane emissions from fresh milk by 2030).
- World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD)coreKey impact partner collaborating on sustainable development initiatives and corporate sustainability standards. Member of coalitions including Dairy Methane Action Alliance.
- RAMSARcoreKey impact partner for wetland conservation and water resource protection. Supports Salus Natural Reserve protection and water sustainability initiatives.
- World Health Organization (WHO)minorDanone collaborates with WHO on health policy initiatives and evidence-based advocacy aligned with sustainability commitments under Danone Impact Journey.
- Grameen Danone Foods LtdminorWorld's first corporate social business created in 2006 by Franck Riboud and Muhammad Yunus. Social business model addressing nutrition access in Bangladesh.
- Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) PlatformcoreDanone is member of industry coalition working on sustainable agriculture practices and regenerative farming implementation across supply chain.
- OP2B (One Planet Business for Biodiversity)coreDanone participates in this coalition of food companies working on agricultural transition and biodiversity protection in Europe through EU Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming Framework.
- ARGANminorFrench real estate company delivering refrigerated warehouse facilities to Danone. Delivered AutOnom cold storage warehouse in Sorigny (near Tours) in 2026 under 9-year firm lease, strengthening logistics operations.
- Druid SportminorInternational sports marketing agency serving as AFA's exclusive commercial representative in China. Secured Danone (via Mizone brand) partnership for Argentine Football Association sponsorships ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026.
- Argentina Football Association (AFA)minorMizone brand sponsors AFA in China through Druid Sport partnership. Collaboration leverages AFA's global brand power through locally aligned marketing activations in China market.
- CEPIV (Environmental Committee for Protection of Volvic Impluvium)corePublic-private partnership co-founded by Volvic in 2006 with four local communities to protect volcanic water catchment area and biodiversity through sustainable agriculture and NGO collaborations.
- APIEME (Association for Protection of evian Mineral Water Impluvium)coreCo-founded by evian with 13 municipalities over 25 years ago to protect evian water source and surrounding environment through sustainable agricultural practices.
Scale indicators20 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
DANONE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Chobani: US-headquartered Greek yogurt and functional dairy specialist. Direct functional-yogurt competitor to Activia/Actimel and named defendant in Danone's 2026 protein-labeling lawsuit.
- Nestlé: Swiss multinational with the largest global nutrition, dairy, and bottled water portfolios (e.g., Nestlé Waters, Nestlé Health Science, infant nutrition). Direct overlap with Danone's three segments and co-investigation partner in the 2026 infant formula matter.
- FrieslandCampina: Dutch dairy cooperative with global presence in fresh dairy, infant nutrition, and functional dairy ingredients. Comparable to Danone's Essential Dairy & Plant-Based and Specialized Nutrition portfolios across Europe, Asia, and Africa.
- Lactalis: World's largest privately held dairy group with broad fresh and functional dairy offerings. Directly comparable to Danone in dairy categories and co-disclosed as a competitor in Nigeria dairy market alongside Nestlé and Fan Milk.
- Yili Group: China's largest dairy producer with broad yogurt, milk powder, and ice cream portfolios. Mirrors Danone's combination of fresh dairy scale and Asia-Pacific exposure and competes in Asian markets alongside Danone.
- Mengniu Dairy: Major Chinese dairy group across liquid milk, yogurt, and ice cream. Comparable in scale and category mix to Danone in China and the broader APAC region.
- Oatly: Swedish plant-based beverage and food specialist. Closely comparable to Danone's Alpro and Silk brands within Essential Dairy & Plant-Based and competes for the same flexitarian consumers.
Broad incumbents
- Unilever: Global CPG incumbent with ice cream, plant-based (Hellmann's vegan), and beverages portfolios. Overlaps with Danone's plant-based and water brands but operates across a much broader non-food/non-beverage portfolio.
- Abbott Laboratories: Diversified healthcare major with leading global medical nutrition and pediatric nutrition businesses (e.g., Similac, Ensure, PediaSure). Directly comparable to Danone's Specialized Nutrition adult and early life segments.
- Mead Johnson (Reckitt): Specialty infant and child nutrition brand owned by Reckitt. Directly comparable to Danone's Nutricia/early-life nutrition pillar and competes across multiple geographies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DANONE social profiles
Digital presenceDANONE compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
DANONE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DANONE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
DANONE subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
DANONE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DANONE M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A18 records
Investments5 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DANONE
What does DANONE do?
Danone is a global food and beverage company that produces, markets, and distributes dairy and plant-based products, bottled water, and specialized nutrition (infant, medical, and adult) under multiple regional and global brands. It operates three reportable segments — Essential Dairy & Plant-Based, Waters, and Specialized Nutrition — selling branded packaged food and beverage products to retailers, foodservice operators, and healthcare providers in over 120 countries.
Is DANONE a public or private company?
DANONE is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was DANONE founded?
DANONE was founded in 1919. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is DANONE based?
DANONE is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does DANONE make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Essential Dairy & Plant-Based Products are the primary driver. The others are waters, specialized Nutrition and functional Nutrition (via Acquisitions).
Who are DANONE's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Chobani, Nestlé, FrieslandCampina, Lactalis, Yili Group, Mengniu Dairy and Oatly. Broad incumbents are Unilever, Abbott Laboratories and Mead Johnson (Reckitt).
Does DANONE have an API?
No public API is recorded for DANONE.
What industry is DANONE in?
DANONE's product category is Food and Beverage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADACAG, Refrigerated Dips & Spreads (Cream Cheese, Hummus, Salsa, Guacamole), with a secondary code of AFAJAKAK, Condition-Specific Bioactives (Glucosamine/Chondroitin, Plant Sterols, Melatonin, Lutein/Zeaxanthin). Its NAICS code is 31211 and its SIC code is 2000.