FDBusiness.com

Danone has announced a series of investments to strengthen the local market capabilities, support and commitment of its Specialised Nutrition business in China. These investments will enable the company to broaden and deepen its range of nutritional products and services that are tailored to Chinese health needs, traditions and tastes.

Totalling around €100 million (RMB790 million), these investments include the opening of an open-science research centre based in Shanghai, the acquisition of local infant milk formula capabilities, and the expansion of capacity to further develop offerings in FSMP (Food for Special Medical Purposes), meaning food for people whose nutritional requirements cannot be met by normal foods.

In full coherence with its One Planet. One health frame of action, Danone has also announced that its Early Life Nutrition business unit in the country has achieved B CorpTM certification. This means that Danone becomes the biggest B Corp™ in Asia, which fully embodies the reality of its commitment towards the well-being of local populations and the preservation of local environment. It represents also an important step towards Danone’s accelerated ambition to become B Corp™ certified by 2025.

Véronique Penchienati-Bosetta, Executive Vice President, Specialised Nutrition, comments: “For some thirty years Danone has been serving the needs of people in China, for both early life nutrition and nutrition for those ill or aged. The opening of the Open Science Research Center, the acquisition of local manufacturing capabilities and the B Corp™ certification are key milestones for Danone’s presence in China as they will allow us to further invest responsibly in the promotion of healthy and balanced diets, grounded in scientific research and tailored to Chinese nutritional and health needs, habits, and traditions. This investment further demonstrates Danone’s belief in the long-term growth potential of the Infant Milk Formula and medical nutrition market in China and in the power of nutrition to positively impact health trajectories.”