Danone North America
Danone's North American operating company for dairy, plant-based food and beverages, coffee creamers, nutrition products, and organic produce.
Last updated August 26, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Danone North America is the regional operating company of French food group Danone S.A. It manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells branded consumer food and beverage products, with activities centered on dairy, plant-based foods and beverages, coffee creamers, and organic produce. Its portfolio includes brands such as Oikos, Horizon Organic, Silk, So Delicious Dairy Free, Stok, Too Good, International Delight, and selected regional and European brands. The business traces its corporate history to WhiteWave Foods, which was established in Boulder, Colorado, in 1977 by Steve Demos to develop soy-based foods and broaden consumer acceptance of soy products. WhiteWave later became a subsidiary of Dean Foods, which acquired the company in 2002. The business was separated from Dean Foods through an initial public offering announced in 2012, giving WhiteWave an independent public-company structure and enabling it to expand through acquisitions and brand development. WhiteWave enlarged its portfolio in organic produce through the acquisition of Earthbound Farm in January 2014. It also expanded its plant-based range through the acquisition of So Delicious, a producer of dairy-free frozen desserts and beverages, completed in October 2014. These transactions strengthened WhiteWave's position in organic, vegetarian, vegan, and plant-based categories while complementing its existing soy and dairy businesses. In July 2016, Danone announced an agreement to acquire WhiteWave for approximately $12.5 billion. The transaction required regulatory review in the United States. To address the concerns of the U.S. Department of Justice, Danone agreed to divest the Stonyfield dairy business after closing. The acquisition was completed in April 2017, after which the combined North American operation was named DanoneWave. In April 2018, it adopted the name Danone North America. Danone North America operates as part of Danone's broader international portfolio, while retaining a substantial regional brand and supply-chain footprint. Its business combines conventional and organic dairy, plant-based alternatives, refrigerated foods, coffee-related products, and nutrition-oriented offerings. The company's positioning reflects Danone's emphasis on health, nutrition, consumer choice, and sustainability, although individual brands retain distinct market identities and category strategies.
History
Danone North America's corporate history begins with the creation of WhiteWave Foods in 1977. Founded by Steve Demos in Boulder, Colorado, WhiteWave initially focused on developing soy foods and beverages for a broader consumer market. Its early work helped establish soy as a packaged-food category in the United States and provided the foundation for a portfolio that would later extend into organic dairy, plant-based alternatives, and other natural-food segments. WhiteWave became part of Dean Foods in 2002. Under Dean Foods' ownership, the business continued to develop branded and private-label activities in dairy and plant-based foods. Dean Foods announced the separation of WhiteWave through an initial public offering in August 2012. The transaction established WhiteWave as an independently traded company and gave it greater strategic and financial flexibility to pursue growth in emerging food categories. The company pursued an acquisition-led expansion strategy during the following years. On January 2, 2014, WhiteWave acquired Earthbound Farm, described in the reference material as the largest grower of organic produce in the United States. The deal added organic produce to WhiteWave's existing dairy and plant-based activities. Later in 2014, WhiteWave announced and completed the acquisition of So Delicious, a company specializing in vegan and dairy-free desserts and beverages. So Delicious broadened WhiteWave's plant-based offering beyond soy beverages into frozen desserts and other dairy-free products. Danone announced its intention to acquire WhiteWave on July 7, 2016. The proposed transaction would combine Danone's international capabilities in dairy and nutrition with WhiteWave's North American strength in organic and plant-based brands. WhiteWave's board recommended that shareholders approve the offer, and a shareholder meeting was scheduled for October 4, 2016. The transaction received regulatory scrutiny in the United States. In March 2017, Danone announced an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice under which Stonyfield, a dairy business owned by Danone, would be divested after the acquisition closed. The remedy was intended to address competition concerns arising from the combination of the two companies' dairy operations. The acquisition was completed in April 2017. The newly combined company initially operated under the name DanoneWave. In April 2018, the business was renamed Danone North America, aligning the regional company more directly with its parent group's global identity. The company's North American activities remain focused on branded consumer packaged foods and beverages, while some of its brands and products also have connections to Danone's wider European operations. Today, Danone North America's portfolio spans dairy yogurt and milk, organic food, plant-based beverages and foods, dairy-free desserts, coffee creamers, cold-brew coffee, and nutrition-oriented products. Brands such as Oikos, Horizon Organic, Silk, So Delicious Dairy Free, Stok, Too Good, and International Delight serve different consumer needs and price points. The company therefore functions less as a single consumer-facing brand than as a regional operating platform managing a collection of established category brands under the Danone group.
- 2018
Regional business renamed Danone North America
[1]DanoneWave adopts the Danone North America name.
- 2017
WhiteWave becomes part of Danone
[1]The acquisition closes in April, and the combined business begins operating as DanoneWave.
- 2016
Danone announces WhiteWave acquisition
[1]Danone announces a proposed acquisition of WhiteWave valued at approximately $12.5 billion.
- 2014
Earthbound Farm acquisition
[1]WhiteWave acquires Earthbound Farm, expanding into organic produce.
- 2014
So Delicious acquisition
[1]WhiteWave announces and completes the acquisition of So Delicious, adding vegan and dairy-free desserts and beverages.
- 2012
WhiteWave separation through an initial public offering
[1]Dean Foods announces the separation of WhiteWave through an initial public offering, creating an independently traded company.
- 2002
Dean Foods acquires WhiteWave
[1]WhiteWave becomes a subsidiary of Dean Foods.
- 1977
WhiteWave Foods is established
[1]Steve Demos establishes WhiteWave Foods in Boulder, Colorado, with an initial focus on expanding soy foods and beverages.
Products and positioning
Health and nutrition-oriented branded food and beverage company offering dairy, plant-based, organic, and coffee-related products, with a stated emphasis on consumer choice and sustainability.
Greek yogurt
Oikos
Oikos is Danone North America's Greek-yogurt brand. It is positioned around thick, high-protein or protein-focused yogurt formats and is sold in multiple varieties and serving formats. The brand represents Danone's mainstream and premium refrigerated dairy presence in North America.
Organic dairy and pantry products
Horizon Organic
Horizon Organic is an organic dairy and pantry-products brand associated with milk and other organic food offerings. It serves consumers seeking certified-organic or environmentally oriented alternatives within the conventional dairy aisle and is one of the major legacy brands in the North American portfolio.
Plant-based foods and beverages
Silk
Silk is a major plant-based brand offering products such as soy, almond, oat, and other non-dairy beverages, along with additional plant-based foods. Its portfolio reflects the expansion of dairy alternatives from a niche soy category into a broad refrigerated and shelf-stable beverage market.
Dairy-free desserts and beverages
So Delicious Dairy Free
So Delicious Dairy Free specializes in plant-based and dairy-free products, including frozen desserts and beverages. WhiteWave acquired the business in 2014, adding a prominent vegan-oriented brand to its existing soy and organic portfolio.
Cold-brew coffee
Stok
Stok is a cold-brew coffee brand within the company's beverage portfolio. It participates in the ready-to-drink and refrigerated coffee segment, complementing Danone North America's dairy, plant-based, and creamer businesses.
Reduced-sugar yogurt
Too Good
Too Good is a yogurt brand oriented toward consumers seeking reduced-sugar options. It extends Danone North America's refrigerated dairy range with a proposition centered on nutrition-conscious consumption.
Coffee creamers and beverages
International Delight
International Delight is a coffee-creamer and flavored coffee-beverage brand distributed through Danone North America's North American portfolio. It operates in a distinct category from the company's yogurt and plant-based brands while sharing the broader platform of branded refrigerated and beverage products.
Organic produce
Earthbound Farm
Earthbound Farm added organic produce to WhiteWave's portfolio when it was acquired in 2014. The business broadened the company's presence beyond packaged dairy and plant-based products into fresh organic agriculture and produce.
Controversies
2020
Earth Island Institute sues companies over plastic packaging pollution in California
Earth Island Institute filed a lawsuit in a California court against Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Nestle USA, Procter & Gamble and other companies, seeking unspecified damages and an order requiring them to clean up plastic waste. The group alleges that plastic packaging from the companies is fouling California waters and says their products contributed to a global pollution crisis; these are allegations in the lawsuit, not a court determination.
Brand decisions
2018
Adopt the Danone North America identityStrategyBackground
The combined company had operated as DanoneWave since the completion of the WhiteWave acquisition.
Action taken
The company changed its name to Danone North America in April 2018.
Aftermath
The regional operating company became more directly aligned with the Danone corporate brand.
2017
Divest Stonyfield to resolve antitrust concernsOtherBackground
The U.S. Department of Justice reviewed the combination of Danone and WhiteWave and raised competition concerns in dairy.
Action taken
Danone agreed to sell its Stonyfield dairy subsidiary after the WhiteWave acquisition closed.
Aftermath
The regulatory agreement enabled the WhiteWave transaction to proceed and was followed by the formation of DanoneWave.
2016
Danone proposes acquisition of WhiteWaveM&ABackground
Danone sought to combine its global dairy and nutrition capabilities with WhiteWave's growth-oriented organic and plant-based portfolio.
Action taken
Danone announced a proposed acquisition of WhiteWave on July 7, 2016, and WhiteWave's board recommended approval.
Aftermath
The transaction proceeded subject to shareholder approval and U.S. regulatory review.
Transaction value. Approximately $12.5 billion (2016)
2014
Acquire Earthbound FarmM&ABackground
WhiteWave sought to expand beyond soy, dairy, and plant-based beverages into organic produce.
Action taken
WhiteWave acquired Earthbound Farm on January 2, 2014.
Aftermath
The transaction added an organic-produce business to WhiteWave's branded food portfolio.
Acquisition value. Approximately $600 million (2014)
2014
Acquire So DeliciousM&ABackground
WhiteWave aimed to strengthen its position in vegan and dairy-free foods and beverages.
Action taken
WhiteWave announced the acquisition of So Delicious in September and completed it on October 31, 2014.
Aftermath
So Delicious expanded WhiteWave's plant-based range into dairy-free desserts and beverages.
Recent events
HowGood publicly launches Latis sustainability assessment tool[5]
Reported:
HowGood publicly launched Latis, a tool for assessing consumer product ingredients against environmental and social metrics. The company said Danone North America was its initial customer.
Earth Island Institute sues companies over plastic packaging pollution in California[4]
Reported:
Earth Island Institute filed a lawsuit in a California court against Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Nestle USA, Procter & Gamble and other companies, seeking unspecified damages and an order requiring them to clean up plastic waste. The group alleges that plastic packaging from the companies is fouling California waters and says their products contributed to a global pollution crisis; these are allegations in the lawsuit, not a court determination.
Danone North America partners with rePlant Capital[6]
Reported:
Danone North America announced a partnership with rePlant Capital. rePlant will invest up to $20 million to support Danone North America’s farmer partners with expenses related to converting to regenerative or organic farming practices.
Danone North America and rePlant Capital announce farmer-financing partnership[7]
Reported:
Danone North America announced a partnership with rePlant Capital, which plans to invest up to $20 million over several years to support Danone North America farmer partners converting to regenerative or organic farming practices. The first loan was provided to McCarty Family Farms.
Danone North America and Brightseed research partnership[8]
Reported:
Danone North America and Brightseed began a multi-phase partnership to identify phytonutrients in plant-based ingredients used in Danone products, beginning with soy research.
Sources8 sources
- 1Danone North Americaen.wikipedia.org
- 2History of White Wave, Inc. (Boulder Colorado) (1977-June 1987): Work with Soyfoodssoyinfocenter.com
- 3History of White Wave, Inc. (1977-2022)soyinfocenter.com
- 4Earth Island Institute sues companies over plastic packaging pollution in Californialatimes.com
- 5HowGood公开推出Latis可持续性评估工具techcrunch.com
- 6Danone North America与rePlant Capital建立合作dairyreporter.com
- 7Danone North America与rePlant Capital宣布农户融资合作prnewswire.com
- 8Danone North America与Brightseed开展研究合作bevnet.com
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/danone-north-america · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled