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Danone International

Website:

www.danone.com
Status:

Corporation
Type:

International food products company
Founded:

1919
CEO:

Antoine de Saint-Affrique
Headquarters:

Paris, France
Locations (U.S):

White Plains, NY

Broomfield, CO

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Danone International (Danone) in one of the world’s largest producers of dairy and plant based food, infant and early life nutrition, medical nutrition, and water products.

History

Danone International began in 1919 in Barcelona, Spain and founded a U.S. affiliate in 1942. 1 By 1972, Danone merged with BSN, a bottle maker that had become France’s largest producer of beverages and baby food. 2 In 1979, BSN-Danone acquired several companies, creating Europe’s third-largest food company. 3 In 1991, BSN-Danone expanded to Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America. 4 In 1994, the company was operating in 46 countries and shortened its name to Danone. 5 In 2007, Danone pledged to become a more socially-minded business and began focusing on the environment. 6

Products

Danone International focuses on four businesses: dairy and plant-based food products, early life nutrition, medical nutrition, and water. 7 Through an acquisition of the food company WhiteWave in 2017, Danone expanded its dairy and plant-based products to include Activia, Dannon yogurt, Oikos, Silk milk, and International Delight coffee creamer. 8 In 2022, Danone was the number one worldwide producer of dairy and plant-based food products. 9

Danone owns several brands of bottled water including Evian, Mizone, Volvic, Bonafont, and Aqua. 10 In 2022, Danone was the second largest bottled water company in the world. 11 Danone International produces specialized nutritional products for infants, allergies, and nutritional products for the elderly. 12 Danone was the second largest company in infant nutrition and fourth largest in adult nutrition in 2022. 13 In North America, Danone is one of the top 15 food and beverage companies in the U.S. 14

Positions

Damone International operates in the United States as Danone North America. 15 Since 2015, Danone International has partnered with B Lab to seek certification for social, environmental, societal impact, and governance as a company. 16 In 2022, Danone International was 74.2 percent B Corp Certified, up from 62 percent in 2021. 17 Danone seeks 100 percent B Corp Certification by 2025. 18  In the United States, in 2022, Danone North America has a 96 percent B Corp Certified impact score. 19

Danone International has set environmental goals for the next decade. 20 Danone seeks to reduce its carbon emissions to align with the Paris Climate Agreement by 2030. 21 Danone seeks to be net zero emissions by 2050. 22 Danone seeks zero deforestation and conversion of key commodities by 2025. 23 Danone seeks to be 100 percent reusable and recyclable by 2030. 24

Danone International seeks to have 100 percent of employees covered by company health care by 2030. 25 Danone seeks to drive equity and close the gender pay gap by 2025 and achieve gender balance in management by 2030. 26 Danone maintains an inclusion index among peers, seeks to have all employees trained on Danone’s human rights policy by 2025, and will implement a responsible sourcing policy by 2030. 27

Finances

In 2022, Danone International had sales of €27.7 billion (approximately $29.3 billion), up 7.8 percent from the previous year. 28 Danone reported €2.1 billion (approximately $2.2 billion) in free cash flow and €3.42 (approximately $3.62) earnings per share for 2022, up 3.6 percent from the previous year. 29

Leadership

Antoine de Saint-Affrique has been CEO of Danone International since 2021. 30 Prior to Danone, de Saint-Affrique worked as CEO for the chocolate supplier Barry Callebaut from 2015-2021. 31 From 2001-2015, de Saint-Affrique held various positions at Unilever. 32 De Saint-Affrique has an MBA from Ecole Superieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciale (ESSEC). 33

Shane Grant has been the CEO for the Americas and executive vice president for Dairy, Plant-Based, and Global Sales since 2020. 34 From 2000-2020, Grant held various positions with the Coca Cola Company, including president of Coca-Cola Canada and president for still beverages for North America. 35 Previously, Grant spent three years working for Unilever in Australia. 36

References

  1. “A Walk Through Danone’s History.” Medium. November 21, 2016. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://medium.com/@Danone/a-walk-through-the-danones-history-a031acdb7335.
  2. “A Walk Through Danone’s History.” Medium. November 21, 2016. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://medium.com/@Danone/a-walk-through-the-danones-history-a031acdb7335.
  3. “A Walk Through Danone’s History.” Medium. November 21, 2016. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://medium.com/@Danone/a-walk-through-the-danones-history-a031acdb7335.
  4. “A Walk Through Danone’s History.” Medium. November 21, 2016. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://medium.com/@Danone/a-walk-through-the-danones-history-a031acdb7335.
  5. “A Walk Through Danone’s History.” Medium. November 21, 2016. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://medium.com/@Danone/a-walk-through-the-danones-history-a031acdb7335.
  6. “A Walk Through Danone’s History.” Medium. November 21, 2016. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://medium.com/@Danone/a-walk-through-the-danones-history-a031acdb7335.
  7. “Developing Brands for a Healthier World.” Danone International. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/about-danone/at-a-glance/our-businesses.html.
  8. “Essential Dairy and Plant-Based Products.” Danone International. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/brands/dairy-plant-based-products.html.
  9. “Integrated Annual Report 2022.” Danone International. April 2023. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/content/dam/corp/global/danonecom/rai/2022/danone-integrated-annual-report-2022.pdf.
  10. “Danone Water.” Danone International. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/brands/waters.html.
  11.  “Integrated Annual Report 2022.” Danone International. April 2023. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/content/dam/corp/global/danonecom/rai/2022/danone-integrated-annual-report-2022.pdf.
  12. “Specialized Nutrition.” Danone International. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/brands/specialized-nutrition.html.
  13. “Integrated Annual Report 2022.” Danone International. April 2023. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/content/dam/corp/global/danonecom/rai/2022/danone-integrated-annual-report-2022.pdf.
  14. “Creating A New Kind of Food Company.” Danone North America. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danonenorthamerica.com/our-business/.
  15. “Danone North America.” Danone North America. Accessed September28, 2023. https://www.danonenorthamerica.com.
  16. “How to Get Your B Corp Label.” Greenly Institute. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://greenly.earth/en-us/blog/company-guide/how-greenly-helps-your-company-get-a-b-corp-label?utm_term=b%20corp%20certification&utm_campaign=sn-acq-us-o&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=667024616854&utm_term=b%20corp%20certification&utm_campaign=1:+SN+%7C+2:+Acquisition+%7C+3:+Search+Generic+Other+US+google+%7C+4:+US&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=8929442750&hsa_cam=20406138211&hsa_grp=153150406713&hsa_ad=667024616854&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-868201647726&hsa_kw=b%20corp%20certification&hsa_mt=p&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1OmoBhDXARIsAAAYGSGO0v96n_8_erpY3rJUL6-J4r2CPR0lSLpt-edeG2bPsLErVdo8trUaAhkxEALw_wcB;  “Integrated Annual Report 2022.” Danone International. April 2023. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/content/dam/corp/global/danonecom/rai/2022/danone-integrated-annual-report-2022.pdf.
  17. “Integrated Annual Report 2022.” Danone International. April 2023. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/content/dam/corp/global/danonecom/rai/2022/danone-integrated-annual-report-2022.pdf.
  18. “Integrated Annual Report 2022.” Danone International. April 2023. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/content/dam/corp/global/danonecom/rai/2022/danone-integrated-annual-report-2022.pdf.
  19. “Danone North America.” B Lab. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/find-a-b-corp/company/danone-north-america/.
  20. “Integrated Annual Report 2022.” Danone International. April 2023. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/content/dam/corp/global/danonecom/rai/2022/danone-integrated-annual-report-2022.pdf.
  21.  “Integrated Annual Report 2022.” Danone International. April 2023. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/content/dam/corp/global/danonecom/rai/2022/danone-integrated-annual-report-2022.pdf.
  22. [1] “Integrated Annual Report 2022.” Danone International. April 2023. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/content/dam/corp/global/danonecom/rai/2022/danone-integrated-annual-report-2022.pdf.
  23. “Integrated Annual Report 2022.” Danone International. April 2023. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/content/dam/corp/global/danonecom/rai/2022/danone-integrated-annual-report-2022.pdf.
  24. “Integrated Annual Report 2022.” Danone International. April 2023. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/content/dam/corp/global/danonecom/rai/2022/danone-integrated-annual-report-2022.pdf.
  25. “Integrated Annual Report 2022.” Danone International. April 2023. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/content/dam/corp/global/danonecom/rai/2022/danone-integrated-annual-report-2022.pdf.
  26. “Integrated Annual Report 2022.” Danone International. April 2023. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/content/dam/corp/global/danonecom/rai/2022/danone-integrated-annual-report-2022.pdf.
  27. “Integrated Annual Report 2022.” Danone International. April 2023. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/content/dam/corp/global/danonecom/rai/2022/danone-integrated-annual-report-2022.pdf.
  28. “Facts and Figures.” Danone International. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/investor-relations/danone-at-a-glance/facts-and-figures.html.
  29. “Facts and Figures.” Danone International. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/investor-relations/danone-at-a-glance/facts-and-figures.html.
  30. Askew, Katy. “Danone Names New CEO: ‘Antoine de Saint-Affrique is a Standout Leader in the Consumer Goods World.” Food Navigator Europe. May 18, 2021. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2021/05/18/Danone-names-new-CEO-Antoine-de-Saint-Affrique-is-a-standout-leader-in-the-consumer-goods-world#.
  31. Askew, Katy. “Danone Names New CEO: ‘Antoine de Saint-Affrique is a Standout Leader in the Consumer Goods World.” Food Navigator Europe. May 18, 2021. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2021/05/18/Danone-names-new-CEO-Antoine-de-Saint-Affrique-is-a-standout-leader-in-the-consumer-goods-world#; “Antoine de Saint-Affrique.” LinkedIn. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoine-de-saint-affrique-a360047/?originalSubdomain=fr.
  32. “Antoine de Saint-Affrique.” LinkedIn. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoine-de-saint-affrique-a360047/?originalSubdomain=fr.
  33. “Antoine de Saint-Affrique.” LinkedIn. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoine-de-saint-affrique-a360047/?originalSubdomain=fr.
  34. “Integrated Annual Report 2022.” Danone International. April 2023. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.danone.com/content/dam/corp/global/danonecom/rai/2022/danone-integrated-annual-report-2022.pdf; “Shane Grant.” LinkedIn. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-grant-842a4718/.
  35. “Shane Grant.” LinkedIn. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-grant-842a4718/.
  36. “Shane Grant.” LinkedIn. Accessed September 28, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-grant-842a4718/.
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