Danone

Groupe Danone is a French company and a fast growing, global food company. It has business in over 150 countries in five continents and employs almost 100,000 people.

Group Danone has however started from humble origins, which shape its business to this day. It all started in 1919 when a Spanish pharmacist, Isaac Carasso, in the city of Barcelona, sold the first jars of yoghurt. Mr. Carasso knew that yoghurt was good for many children suffering with intestinal problems at that time. The yoghurt sold out, that Barcelona pharmacy laid the foundations of Danone and until today, the Danone Group maintains its strong commitment to its mission of bringing health through food and beverages to the greatest number of people.

Group Danone has four strong and clearly stated values that bring together multiple cultures and local identities – humanism, openness, enthusiasm and proximity.

Danone Clover

In 1996 Danone entered the South African market by creating a joint venture with the number one in South African dairy, Clover.

The marriage of Clover, the traditional and trusted South African brand, and Danone, symbolizing quality and innovation, proved to be successful beyond expectations. During the past 9 years, Danone Clover succeeded in establishing themselves as the undisputed leader in fresh dairy in South Africa.

This was done by developing a strong awareness of the Clover Danone brand and revolutionizing the dairy market in SA by introducing new concepts (e.g. Danone Corner, NutriDay, Fruit multipack and Danino).

Through our carefully selected, multicultural team of dedicated employees we have gone to great lengths to understand our consumers better. This also means that they were able to implement the concept of daily, affordable health through dairy.

As the number one dairy products manufacturer in SA, Danone Clover will continue to strive towards ensuring affordable daily health for all South Africans, by continually introducing healthy and enjoyable fresh dairy products.

What is yoghurt?

Yoghurt is a dairy product produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. Fermentation of the milk sugar (lactose) produces lactic acid, which acts on milk protein to give yoghurt its texture and its characteristic tang.

Yoghurt is made by introducing specific bacteria strains into milk, which is subsequently fermented under controlled temperatures and environmental conditions, especially in industrial production. The bacteria ingest natural milk sugars and release lactic acid. The increased acidity causes milk proteins to tangle into a solid mass. The increased acidity (pH=4-5) also prevents the proliferation of potentially pathogenic bacteria. A small amount of live yoghurt can be used to inoculate a new batch of yoghurt, as the bacteria reproduce and multiply during fermentation. Pasteurised products, which have no living bacteria, are called fermented milk (drink).

Yoghurt has nutritional benefits beyond those of milk: people who are lactose-intolerant often enjoy yoghurt without ill effects, apparently because live yoghurt cultures contain enzymes which help break down lactose inside the intestine.

To offset its natural sourness, yoghurt can be sold sweetened, flavoured, or in containers with fruit or fruit jam on the bottom.

What is Danimal?

Danimal is a delicious and creamy yoghurt, made by Danone Clover, which is enriched with Daniboost, a combination of vitamin A, Iron and Zinc. Only one cup of Danimal provides 50% of Vitamin A, 50% of Zinc and 35% of Iron of a child daily need.

Medical research has found that in South Africa two of every five child suffers from overall malnutrition, and the main micro nutrient deficiencies are Vitamin A, Iron and zinc.