DANONE

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.

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

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

• Dairy products
• Plant-based beverages
• Bottled water
• Infant nutrition
• Medical nutrition

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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).
2. 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).
3. 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.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Livelihoods FundscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Danone 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 GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Danone 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 AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Danone 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.
• HuelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2026Danone 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)coreOthersDanone 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 FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey impact partner working on circular economy initiatives. Danone collaborates on packaging sustainability and circular business model innovation.
• Environmental Defense FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey impact partner for environmental advocacy and sustainability policy engagement. Collaborates on climate action and environmental protection initiatives.
• Global Methane HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey impact partner collaborating on sustainable development initiatives and corporate sustainability standards. Member of coalitions including Dairy Methane Action Alliance.
• RAMSARcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey impact partner for wetland conservation and water resource protection. Supports Salus Natural Reserve protection and water sustainability initiatives.
• World Health Organization (WHO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanone collaborates with WHO on health policy initiatives and evidence-based advocacy aligned with sustainability commitments under Danone Impact Journey.
• Grameen Danone Foods LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld'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) PlatformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanone is member of industry coalition working on sustainable agriculture practices and regenerative farming implementation across supply chain.
• OP2B (One Planet Business for Biodiversity)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanone participates in this coalition of food companies working on agricultural transition and biodiversity protection in Europe through EU Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming Framework.
• ARGANminorOthersFrench 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 SportminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational 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)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMizone 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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic-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)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/Danone
• YouTubeyoutube.com/Danone
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dashboard
• Instagraminstagram.com/lifeatdanone/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A18 records

Investments5 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DANONE