Food industry

Danone swallows white wave

The world’s largest yogurt maker Danone doubles with a blow to its business in the United States. For a price of 11.3 billion, the French group is buying the US manufacturer of organic foods white wave.

It is the largest acquisition for Danone for the last ten years. The food group has to struggle with problems on its markets in Russia and Brazil, as the Expansion in the United States could create a balance. The US business makes in the future, 22 percent of group sales. In the stock market, the plans arrived well. Danone shares rose by almost six percent to its highest level in 14 months.

White wave Foods also produces and distributes, among other things, soy milk and soy yogurt, organic fruit and organic vegetables and vegan food. In the past year, in Denver, in the U.S. state of Colorado based company with a turnover of 3.6 billion euros. With the Acquisition, Danone is a world leader in organic, and dairy products. The main competitor of the French, the Swiss food giant Nestlé.

Dairy products are already part of the core business of Danone. The food giant employs 100,000 people and made last year, even with Baby food and water, a turnover of 20.2 billion euros. The boards of Directors of both companies have approved the Takeover already, Danone. It should be completed by the end of the year, when the competition authorities have no objections.

ar/ul (rtr, dpa, afp)