How does Danone UK fit in?

A relative youngster in Groupe Danone terms, Danone UK’s spectacular growth has seen us become a vital ingredient of the Group’s worldwide dairy division in terms of our contribution and growth potential.

Although officially created in 1990 as a branch of Danone Belgium, it was only in 1999 that we hit UK shores as a company in our own right. Former managing director Marc Gosselin fondly remembers arriving at a company with only ten employees working out of two rooms at HP Foods’ Enfield office.

'I was a bit taken aback. On the other hand that was the challenge I came for, to build a company. It became my passion, to be part of creating something that has proved successful both for the business and the people,' says Marc.

The launch of Actimel in 1999 proved to be the kick-start the company needed. It tapped in to an exploding consumer trend for functional foods and is now Britain’s best-selling probiotic drink. Other launches have included Activia and Shape Lasting Satisfaction.

Our sales growth has only been outstripped by the growth in our employee numbers. Nearly 100 employees now work out of our Ealing head office.

Current managing director Marnix Eikenboom joined the company in 2006 and has no doubt in our future. He says: 'We have great brands with great benefits, but we also have great people. Their quality, passion and buy-in will be one of the key factors of our continued success.'

A group with a family feel

In 1919 Isaac Carasso produced the first Danone yogurts after being struck by the number of children in his native Barcelona suffering from intestinal disorders. He named his first factory after his son Daniel – Danone in Catalan. Daniel went on to set up the family business in France in 1929.

Almost 100 years later, Groupe Danone is world leader in fresh dairy products and bottled water. We employ 90,000 people in more than 120 countries. But the principles of community and health still hold dear.

Our determination is not to sacrifice people to profits, a principle closely linked to our corporate values, management style and corporate responsibility.

The corporation today is descended from two family businesses – Danone, and industrial glassmaker Boussois-Souchon-Neuvesel (BSN), which was founded by the family of Antoine Riboud. Antoine’s son Franck succeeded his father as Groupe Danone chairman in 1996 and continues to lead the Group’s international growth, focusing on health and wellbeing brands.

See the timeline and the Groupe Danone website for more information.