Danone to convert French dairy factory to produce plant-based drinks

Danone is planning to convert its Villecomtal-sur-Arros dairy plant in France into a plant-based production site.

This is in an effort to seize growth opportunities in plant-based products and meet new consumer expectations.

The dairy giant has announced it will invest €43 million to convert the facility in southern France into a plant-based site for its Alpro brand that will supply the French and European markets.

François Eyraud, managing director of Danone fresh products France, said: “We are observing the enthusiasm of consumers for vegetable recipes, which constitutes a simple solution for those who wish to adopt a more varied and diverse diet. More than ever, we believe in vegetable and dairy offers.”

He continued: “This project would allow Villecomtal-sur-Arros to support a growing market by becoming a benchmark site in Europe for the production of vegetable drinks mainly based on oats”.

The factory will be converted in the autumn of 2022 and will begin to produce its first Alpro-branded drinks from the second quarter of 2023.

Danone also plans to invest €24 million in its sites in Bailleul (Hauts De France), Paysde Bray (Normandy) and Saint-Just-Chaleyssin (Auvergne Rhône-Alpes).

Earlier this year, Danone launched Alpro drinks production at its Labinsk plant in the south of Russia.