Key highlights from Danone’s H1 2025 performance
- Asia delivered standout growth: LFL sales +11.3%, volume/mix +11.9%
- China, North Asia & Oceania saw double-digit gains across all categories
- Specialized Nutrition up 12.9%, EDP up 8.5%, Waters up 7.7%
- Europe posted steady growth: LFL +2.2%, volume +2.4%
- North America and LATAM saw volume growth but reported sales fell due to FX and scope
- Coffee creamers recovering in the US and Alpro set to expand
- Overall H1 sales up 4.2% to €13.7m and volumes up 2.6%
Asia has outshone every other region for Danone in the first half of 2025, delivering standout growth in both volumes and sales, the French food and drink giant’s latest balance sheet shows.
With like-for-like sales surging by 11.3% and volume/mix up an impressive 11.9%, the region’s performance was driven by double-digit gains in Specialized Nutrition and continued momentum in Waters and Dairy, particularly in Japan.
Chunky gains in China, North Asia and Oceania were made across all Danone’s core business functions, with Specialised Nutrition sales up 12.9%, essential dairy and plant-based products (EDP) up 8.5% and waters up by 7.7%.
“In a volatile and uncertain environment, we are consistently doubling down on our fundamentals, further fuelling our winning platforms such as high protein, medical nutrition, Alpro and Aptamil, while moving forward with this next chapter of our Renew Danone strategy,” said CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique.
“We started actively complementing our portfolio, further investing in medical nutrition, acquiring Kate Farms in the US, and in next-generation biotics through The Akkermansia Company.”
Danone’s US and LATAM sales
In the US and Latin America, sales and volumes were up but actual revenues in euros were down in both markets due to currency exchange rate impacts and business scope changes.
North America is also seeing signs of recovery in the coffee creamers category, while High Protein and Specialised Nutrition continue to perform well.
The business plans to replicate the European zone success of brands like Alpro in the States to “reignite plant-based in the US”.
Water sales in North America continued to struggle in the second quarter – down by 4.2% – but showed sales growth overall for the first half of the year at +3.3%.
In LATAM, however, water drooped in both Q2 and H1 by 6.2% and 3.3% respectively.
Danone’s Europe sales
Specialized Nutrition, such as Aptamil and new launches in EDP, like High Protein and drinkable yogurt, however, drove strong growth in the zone.
Europe remains steady, with like-for-like sales up 2.2% and volumes up at 2.4%, the zone’s seventh consecutive quarter of volume growth, driven by dairy and functional brands including High Protein, Skyr and Kefir.
As a result of a strong performance, Danone advises its 2025 balance sheet is in line with expectations.
Big moves in 2025 for Danone
- April 1: Danone raised €800m through an eight-year bond at a 3.438% interest rate. The bond was well received by investors and is listed on Euronext Paris
- April 24: At its AGM, Danone shareholders approved all proposals, including a €2.15 per share dividend, up 2.4% from last year. CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique and several board members were reappointed
- May 12: Danone agreed to acquire a majority stake in Kate Farms, the top doctor-recommended plant-based nutrition brand in the US The deal closed on July 1
- May 29: Shane Grant, CEO Americas and EVP Dairy, Plant-Based and Global Sales, left the company. His responsibilities were taken over by Véronique Penchienati-Bosetta
- June 25: Danone acquired The Akkermansia Company, a Belgian biotics specialist, to strengthen its position in gut health and science-led innovation
In the months ahead, Danone will seek to deliver on growing in new spaces with science-backed innovation, accelerate sales in medical channels and build strong marketing platforms in emerging channels.
It has also signalled plans to work hard on recent acquisitions, including Kate Farms in the US and biotic company The Akkermansia Company, with a focus on science and health claims as business driving initiatives.