Danone completes Made Group acquisition
The Australian company generated more than €300 million in annual sales, while Danone strengthens its regional innovation capabilities following the opening of a major Shanghai research centre.
AUSTRALIA – Danone has completed its acquisition of Made Group, an Australian food and beverage company specialising in high-protein ready-to-drink products, gut-health yogurts and coconut-based beverages, as it expands its health and nutrition portfolio across Asia-Pacific.
Made Group has an established presence in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, where it has recorded consistent double-digit growth through product innovation and marketing. The company generated more than €300 million in sales for the financial year ended June 2026.
Danone said Made Group would become a meaningful contributor to its Essential Dairy and Plant-Based (EDP) business in the Asia-Pacific region.
The acquisition, first announced in June, adds Made Group’s health-focused brands and regional distribution capabilities to Danone’s portfolio, strengthening its presence in high-protein, gut-health and plant-based product categories.
Antoine de Saint-Affrique, CEO of Danone, said the acquisition aligned with the group’s strategy of expanding its health-focused product offerings.
“Today, we are pleased to officially welcome Made to the Danone family. Made is a natural fit for Danone, with a portfolio of strong brands across high-protein, gut health and plant-based products,” he said.
He added that Made Group had established a strong record of innovation, consumer engagement and sustained growth across its existing markets.
“By combining Made’s entrepreneurial culture, marketing expertise and proven route to market with Danone’s scale, science and category expertise, we are excited to unlock new opportunities, and reach even more consumers across Asia Pacific,” de Saint-Affrique said.
Amanda Butler, CEO of Made Group, said the acquisition aligned with the company’s mission of making healthy products accessible to consumers.
“Our mantra of ‘making healthy happy’ is closely aligned with Danone’s mission to bring health through food to as many people as possible,” she said.
Butler added that the combination would create opportunities for the company’s brands, employees and consumers across the region.
Research and Innovation Center
The acquisition follows Danone’s inauguration of its new Research & Innovation Center in Shanghai, strengthening its global research network and regional science capabilities.
The 5,200-square-metre facility brings together more than 130 multidisciplinary experts working across nutrition science, microbiome research, digital health and product development.
Its facilities include integrated research laboratories, a 900-square-metre Danone OneBiome Lab dedicated to microbiome research, a 300-square-metre science experience and consumer engagement hub, and a 700-square-metre pilot plant.
Danone said the centre would accelerate the development of science-based nutrition solutions for China, Asia-Pacific and other markets by connecting regional research capabilities with its global innovation network.
Together, the acquisition and research investment expand Danone’s presence in health and nutrition categories while strengthening its innovation capabilities across Asia-Pacific.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
