In 1919, Isaac Carasso created a simple food with a simple aim to improve health: mixing ferments and fresh milk, he made a yogurt that he affectionately named ‘Danone’ after his son, Daniel Carasso.
He was inspired by the immunologist Elie Metchnikoff’s research at the Institut Pasteur into the role of ferments in gut and overall health. Isaac Carasso added lactic ferments to the yogurt, whose health benefits had been demonstrated. The yogurt was packaged in porcelain pots, which Isaac Carasso began to sell “Danone” yogurt to pharmacies in 1919.
One decade later, Daniel joined the family business and successfully expanded Danone across France. He creates the brand’s first advertising slogan: “Delicious and healthy, Danone yogurt is the right dessert for happy, healthy digestion.” Danone pioneers its message of bringing together enjoyment and health.
In the late 1930s, with Europe once again on the brink of war, he decided to move to the United States. Daniel had to adapt Danone’s model to survive in America. He rebranded Danone to Dannon to avoid alienating the American market. He also developed a new financial model, where consumers paid a 3-cents deposit for the half-pint glass that the yoghurt was sold in.
In 1951, Daniel Carasso returned to Paris to manage the family's businesses in France and Spain, and the American business was sold to Beatrice Foods in 1959; it was repurchased by Danone in 1981.
In Europe in 1967, Danone merged with Gervais, the leading fresh cheese producer in France, and became Gervais Danone.
In 1973, BSN merged with Gervais Danone, a French food and beverage group specialized in dairy and pasta products, becoming the largest food and beverage group in France.
In 1994, BSN changed its name to Groupe Danone, adopting the name of the group’s best-known international brand and from 2000 on, they sold all their beer companies and, later they also left some activities like sauces and cereals in order to focus on more healthy production.
In the early 1990s, Danone made international growth a major priority by penetrating new markets in locations such as China and Eastern Europe by acquiring well-known brands in their respective countries such as China’s ‘Amoy’, a producer of soy sauces and frozen foods.
History of Danone food company
