Nutricia
A Dutch Danone nutrition brand specializing in medical nutrition, therapeutic foods, and infant formula.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Nutricia is a Dutch nutrition brand whose roots lie in the development of infant milk formula and specialized dietary products. It is now part of Danone and is associated principally with medical nutrition, therapeutic foods, and infant nutrition, including formulas designed for babies and young children with specific dietary or medical needs. The brand's origins date to the late nineteenth century. In 1885, German professor Alexander Backhaus developed a method for separating the more slowly digested casein protein from cow's milk, leaving a formulation based largely on faster-dissolving whey proteins. The approach was intended to make milk more digestible and closer in composition to human milk at a time when infant feeding and milk-borne disease were major public-health concerns. Dutch physician and public-health inspector Johannes van der Hagen encountered Backhaus's work at a medical conference in Berlin in 1896 and introduced him to his brother Martinus van der Hagen, who operated a Dutch margarine and dairy factory. The brothers obtained manufacturing rights and began producing infant milk formula in the Netherlands. The Nutricia name was adopted in 1901. The business subsequently broadened beyond infant feeding. In 1905 it introduced products such as low-sugar milk for people with diabetes and iodine-enriched milk for people suffering from goitre. These products established an early connection between the company and what later became known as medical nutrition: the use of specially formulated foods to address particular health and dietary requirements. Nutricia expanded its manufacturing and research capabilities during the twentieth century. Powder production moved to the N.V. Cuijk's Dairy Factory in 1924, a site that continued to produce specialized nutritional products for infants and young children. The company established its first research facilities in Zoetermeer in 1946. In 1950 it created Voedingsnieuws, a travelling group of dietitians that provided education to healthcare professionals in the Netherlands and other countries about specialized nutrition. In 1986, Nutricia added a consumer Care Line staffed by qualified dietitians who advised consumers, carers, and healthcare professionals. The company later became part of a larger nutrition group. Its corporate name changed to Koninklijke Numico N.V., or Royal Numico N.V., in 1998. Numico had already incorporated other important nutrition brands, including Cow & Gate in 1981 and Milupa in 1995. In 2007, Danone agreed to acquire Royal Numico for approximately €12.3 billion. Danone announced that it controlled more than 90% of Numico's shares on 31 October 2007, and the remaining offer was declared unconditional. Numico was subsequently removed from the AEX index and its shares were delisted from the Amsterdam Stock Exchange at the end of 2007. Following the acquisition, Nutricia, Milupa, and Cow & Gate became part of Danone's baby and medical nutrition activities. The operating business is identified in the reference material as Danone Baby and Medical Nutrition B.V. Nutricia therefore continues primarily as a specialist brand within Danone rather than as an independent public company. Its current identity is built around evidence-informed nutrition for infants, children, and people requiring dietary support, with healthcare professionals and caregivers forming important audiences alongside consumers.
History
Nutricia's history began with a nineteenth-century effort to make cow's milk more suitable for infant feeding. German professor Alexander Backhaus developed a process in 1885 that removed much of the slowly digested casein protein, leaving a whey-based formulation that was more readily tolerated and closer to human milk. Dutch physician and public-health inspector Johannes van der Hagen encountered the work at a medical conference in Berlin in 1896. He connected Backhaus with his brother Martinus van der Hagen, whose Dutch factory produced margarine and dairy products. The brothers obtained rights to manufacture the formula and began producing infant milk formula in the Netherlands in 1896. The Nutricia name was adopted in 1901. The enterprise soon extended its work into specialized diets. In 1905 it introduced low-sugar milk for diabetic patients and iodine-enriched milk for people affected by goitre. This diversification is an early example of the company's later medical-nutrition orientation, in which foods are designed for particular physiological or clinical requirements rather than for general consumption alone. A major production move took place in 1924, when Nutricia transferred its main powder manufacturing operations to the N.V. Cuijk's Dairy Factory. The facility continued for decades to manufacture specialized nutritional products for infants and young children with particular dietary needs. Nutricia established research facilities in Zoetermeer in 1946, reinforcing the scientific and technical basis of its products. In 1950 the company launched Voedingsnieuws, a group of dietitians who travelled through the Netherlands and to other countries to educate healthcare professionals about the role of specialized nutrition. The initiative illustrates Nutricia's long-standing reliance on professional education and clinical communication. In 1986 the company opened a consumer Care Line managed by qualified dietitians, providing guidance to consumers, carers, and healthcare professionals. The corporate structure changed in 1998, when the company adopted the name Koninklijke Numico N.V., commonly known as Royal Numico. Within the Numico group, Cow & Gate had become part of Nutricia in 1981 and Milupa in 1995. These additions strengthened the group's position in infant and specialist nutrition. Danone announced an agreement to acquire Royal Numico in 2007 for approximately €12.3 billion. On 31 October of that year, Danone reported control of more than 90% of Numico's shares and declared the offer for the remainder unconditional. Numico was removed from the AEX index, and its shares were delisted from the Amsterdam Stock Exchange at the end of 2007. Nutricia, Milupa, and Cow & Gate subsequently became part of Danone's baby and medical nutrition activities. The Nutricia brand remains associated with Danone's specialist nutrition business, including therapeutic foods, medical nutrition, and infant formulas for babies and young children with specific needs.
- 2007
Danone acquires Royal Numico
[1]Danone acquires Royal Numico for approximately €12.3 billion, bringing Nutricia and related brands into its baby and medical nutrition portfolio.
- 1998
The corporate name changes to Royal Numico
[1]The company adopts the name Koninklijke Numico N.V., or Royal Numico N.V.
- 1995
Milupa joins the group
[1]Milupa becomes part of Nutricia.
- 1986
Consumer Care Line launches
[1]Nutricia introduces a consumer advice service managed by qualified dietitians.
- 1981
Cow & Gate joins the Nutricia group
[1]Cow & Gate becomes part of Nutricia.
- 1950
Voedingsnieuws nutrition education program begins
[1]The company creates a travelling group of dietitians to educate healthcare professionals about specialized nutrition.
- 1946
Research facilities open in Zoetermeer
[1]Nutricia establishes its first research facilities in Zoetermeer, Netherlands.
- 1924
Powder production moves to Cuijk
[1]Nutricia transfers its main powder production facilities to the N.V. Cuijk's Dairy Factory.
- 1905
Specialized dietary products are introduced
[1]Nutricia introduces low-sugar milk for diabetic patients and iodine-enriched milk for people suffering from goitre.
- 1901
The Nutricia name is adopted
[1]The business begins operating under the Nutricia name.
Products and positioning
Specialist, science-led nutrition for medical needs, infant feeding, and early-life dietary support.
Medical nutrition
Medical nutrition
Nutricia's medical-nutrition activities cover foods and nutritional preparations intended for people with particular medical or dietary requirements. The category reflects the brand's historical development from low-sugar and iodine-enriched milk products into specialized nutrition supported by research and professional dietary guidance. The available reference material identifies medical nutrition as a central current focus but does not provide a complete product catalogue.
Infant nutrition · 1896
Infant formula
Infant formula is Nutricia's foundational product category. Production began in the Netherlands in 1896 following the licensing of Alexander Backhaus's whey-based formulation. The modern brand portfolio includes infant nutrition for babies and young children, including specialized formulas for those with specific dietary or medical needs. Individual current product names are not specified in the available source material.
Therapeutic nutrition
Therapeutic foods
Therapeutic foods are nutritional products formulated to support particular health conditions or nutritional requirements. They represent Nutricia's positioning as a specialist nutrition brand rather than a general dairy or grocery label. The reference material confirms the category but does not identify individual formulations or current markets.
Historical specialized nutrition · 1905
Historical diabetic and iodine-enriched milks
In 1905 Nutricia introduced low-sugar milk for diabetic patients and iodine-enriched milk for people suffering from goitre. These products marked an early expansion from infant feeding into nutrition designed for specific medical and public-health needs.
Marketing campaigns
- 1986Consumer Care Line
Netherlands
Nutricia launched a consumer advice line managed by qualified dietitians. It served consumers, carers, and healthcare professionals seeking guidance on specialized nutrition.
Outcome. The initiative extended the brand's nutrition education model beyond institutional healthcare audiences.
- 1950Voedingsnieuws
Netherlands · Other international markets
Nutricia established a travelling group of dietitians called Voedingsnieuws to educate healthcare professionals about specialized nutrition and its role in dietary care.
Outcome. The program strengthened Nutricia's professional-education and healthcare-facing positioning.
Brand decisions
2007
Accept Danone's acquisition of Royal NumicoM&ABackground
Royal Numico was the corporate group associated with Nutricia and other nutrition brands, including Milupa and Cow & Gate. Danone offered to acquire the group as part of its expansion in baby and medical nutrition.
Action taken
The Royal Numico board accepted Danone's offer, valued at approximately €12.3 billion. Danone later reported control of more than 90% of the shares and declared the remaining offer unconditional.
Aftermath
Royal Numico was removed from the AEX index and delisted from the Amsterdam Stock Exchange at the end of 2007. Nutricia became part of Danone's baby and medical nutrition business.
Acquisition value. €12.3 billion (2007 acquisition)
Recent events
- 2007
Danone agrees to acquire Royal Numico[1]
M&A
Danone acquired Royal Numico, the corporate group associated with Nutricia, in a transaction valued at approximately €12.3 billion. The deal brought Nutricia, Milupa, and Cow & Gate into Danone's baby and medical nutrition portfolio.
- 2007
Danone gains control of more than 90% of Numico shares[1]
M&A
Danone announced on 31 October 2007 that it owned more than 90% of Royal Numico's shares and declared its offer for the remaining shares unconditional.
- 2007
Royal Numico is removed from the AEX and delisted[1]
M&A · Other
After Danone obtained control, Royal Numico was removed from the AEX index and its shares were delisted from the Amsterdam Stock Exchange at the end of 2007.
Sources1 sources
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