Danone is to cut EUR200m (US$261m) in costs from its European operations in a bid to “win back its competitive edge” in the region after falling sales.

The French food giant said it would “adapt” its management structure in Europe and “reduce general and administrative costs”.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Danone said the round of cuts, combined with with its ongoing “productivity programmes”, would “free up resources to make Danone products and brands more competitive”.

The announcement comes weeks after it emerged activist US investor Nelson Peltz had acquired a 1% stake in Danone.

US billionaire Peltz often invests in FMCG companies he feels are under-valued or can improve their performance.

In the last six years, he has bought shares in the likes of Heinz, Kraft Foods and the then Cadbury Schweppes, companies he believed needed to change strategy. Peltz is often credited as the catalyst for the split of Cadbury Schweppes, which led to the creation of stand-alone confectionery firm Cadbury.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact