French food and beverage company Danone SA, headquartered in Paris, France, reported a significant 2.3-fold rise in net profit for 2024 despite a slight revenue decline. The company, known for its dairy, plant-based products, and specialized nutrition, attributed the dip in revenue to market exits and currency fluctuations.
French multinational food and beverage manufacturer Danone SA achieved a remarkable 2.3-fold increase in its annual net profit for 2024, reaching $2.18 billion. Despite this growth, the company experienced a slight revenue decline of 0.9% due to its exit from the Russian market, the divestment of Horizon Organic and Wallaby brands in the United States, and currency exchange rate fluctuations.
Danone’s comparable sales (LfL) grew by 4.3%, surpassing analysts’ expectations of 3.8%, according to Visible Alpha. The company, renowned for its dairy, plant-based products, specialized nutrition, and bottled water, reported an overall revenue of $29.53 billion.
Regional Performance and Sector Analysis
Danone’s regional revenue trends showed mixed results. Europe posted a 2% increase, reaching $10.32 billion, while China, North Asia, and Oceania recorded a 5.7% rise to $3.98 billion. Latin America saw the strongest growth at 8.4%, with revenue hitting $3.27 billion. However, North America’s revenue declined by 4.5% to $7.10 billion, and other regions experienced a 10.9% drop to $4.86 billion.
By division, revenue from Danone’s dairy and plant-based segment fell 6% to $14.52 billion, despite a 3.8% increase in comparable sales. The specialized nutrition division posted a 5.1% rise to $9.65 billion, while the water segment grew by 3.8% to $5.37 billion, with comparable sales increasing by 4.6% and 5.1%, respectively.
Looking forward, Danone projects a 3–5% growth in comparable sales for 2025. The company’s board of directors has proposed a dividend of $2.32 per share for 2024, marking a 2.4% increase from the previous year. Since January, Danone’s market capitalization has climbed by 6.8% to $48.27 billion, reinforcing its strong financial position.
