Danone expands US facility to grow plant-based food output

Danone North America has opened a new building at its DuBois, Pennsylvania, facility to increase production of its plant-based foods.

Following a multi-million-dollar investment, the facility will now produce Vega yogurt alternatives and nutritional powders, as well as Silk yogurt alternatives and So Delicious Dairy Free yogurt alternatives and dairy-free cheese shreds.

Danone is responding to a growing consumer demand for plant-based dairy alternatives. Last year, the company revealed plans to triple the size of its plant-based business by 2025 by combining its position in the dairy industry with the high plant-based growth potential.

The firm said that that flexitarians now account for “one-third of the total population in the US”.

Mariano Lozano, CEO of Danone North America, said: “As flexitarian eating patterns continue to evolve and grow in popularity, plant-based food options present an opportunity to bring new choices throughout the grocery store.

“Dairy-free is different than non-dairy – dairy-free options must be produced in a facility that is solely dedicated to plant-based food production. As consumers continue to seek out more dairy-free options, having a facility that meets this standard gives us an opportunity to deliver on their growing demand and high expectations.”

The facility will make plant-based products for Danone’s Silk, So Delicious Dairy Free and Vega brands.

Chad Stone, plant director at Danone North America’s DuBois facility, added: “We’re proud to be a part of the DuBois community where we are now making several of our beloved plant-based products for our Silk, So Delicious Dairy Free and Vega brands.

“Our expertise in plant-based foods is made possible by the dedication of people in the facilities like DuBois where we focus on production to support this important area of growth.”

He added: “Many people who enjoy our products look for plant-based options because they are interested in lessening their impact on the environment through diet.

“Recognising this is a priority for the people we serve, we are committed to continuously improving our environmental practices to ensure they are best in class. We have several projects underway including minimising waste, reducing electricity consumption by converting to LED lighting across all areas of the DuBois facility and creating efficiencies for water use in our cleaning processes.”