France: Danone Completes Conversion of Dairy Yogurt Plant to Oat Milk Production

French multinational food corporation Danone has converted its dairy yogurt plant in Villecomtal-sur-Arros to oat milk production, following a two-year conversion process and a €43 million investment. The facility will produce oat milk for Danone's plant-based brand, Alpro, with an initial production capacity of around 100,000 litres per day, potentially increasing to 300,000. Approximately 90% of the oat milk produced will be exported, mainly to other European countries.

Danone's transition to oat milk production aligns with its sustainability goals and climate transition plan, which recognizes the growing consumer interest in plant-based foods as both a risk and an opportunity. The company is investing significantly in plant-based ingredients and has implemented price reductions in Belgium to encourage more consumers to try plant-based milks. In addition to expanding its plant-based business, Danone is also exploring animal-free dairy solutions through investments in companies like Imagindairy, which uses precision fermentation to produce dairy proteins without animals.