Antoine de Saint-Affrique: Sino-French Collaboration Fuels Danone's Success in China
Source: The DairyNews
The flourishing Sino-French relationship has been a cornerstone of Danone's impressive success in China, according to CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique in a recent interview with Xinhua.
Danone's journey in China began in 1987 with its first venture into the dairy sector in Guangzhou. "This pioneering step was more than just entering a new market; it was a testament to our belief in China's potential for growth and partnership," said de Saint-Affrique.
In 1992, Danone established a baby food company in Shanghai, pioneering the addition of patented prebiotics to infant formula in China. By 2000, it had opened a factory in Wuxi, becoming the first in China to produce enteral nutrition products. More recently, in 2020, Danone inaugurated an open research center in Shanghai and a special nutrition factory in Qingdao.
Over the past three decades, China has grown to become Danone's second-largest market globally for six consecutive years.
"Our operations in China encompass 10 factories and employ over 8,000 people, contributing approximately 11 percent to our global sales as of 2023. In our latest financial report for the first quarter, the China, North Asia, and Oceania Zone posted an 8.9 percent like-for-like growth, the highest among all regions," de Saint-Affrique reported.
The food, drink, and health sector in China is highly competitive, he elaborated.
In 1992, Danone established a baby food company in Shanghai, pioneering the addition of patented prebiotics to infant formula in China. By 2000, it had opened a factory in Wuxi, becoming the first in China to produce enteral nutrition products. More recently, in 2020, Danone inaugurated an open research center in Shanghai and a special nutrition factory in Qingdao.
Over the past three decades, China has grown to become Danone's second-largest market globally for six consecutive years.
"Our operations in China encompass 10 factories and employ over 8,000 people, contributing approximately 11 percent to our global sales as of 2023. In our latest financial report for the first quarter, the China, North Asia, and Oceania Zone posted an 8.9 percent like-for-like growth, the highest among all regions," de Saint-Affrique reported.
The food, drink, and health sector in China is highly competitive, he elaborated.
