Bringing health through food
As Canadian Grocer marks 140 years of covering the evolution of grocery in Canada, we’re shining a spotlight on some of the standout companies that have helped build—and continue to shape—the industry.
Here, we look at Danone Canada:
Then
Danone’s Canadian roots stretch back more than a century. The story begins with Jude Delisle, who founded the eponymous yogurt business in Montreal shortly after the turn of the 20th century. Initially, Delisle supplied yogurt to doctors who prescribed it as a treatment for digestive and other issues.
Over the decades, the business flourished and became Canada’s top yogurt producer by 1967. The following year, the company modernized operations with a new facility in Boucherville, Que., scaling to meet growing demand. The next major milestone came in 1993, when Delisle joined the Danone Group, officially becoming Danone Canada in 1997.
The company quickly earned consumer trust and strong market share in dairy yogurt. With the Boucherville plant’s modernization and now Danone’s global expertise and science supporting it, Danone Canada cemented an early reputation with consumers for product quality, category innovation and leadership.
Now
Today, Danone Canada is one of the largest and fastest-growing food and beverage companies in the country, and one that is actively shaping the future of food and nutrition in Canada.
Health, sustainability and innovation are at the core of the company’s mission to bring health through food to as many Canadians as possible.
READ: The Leaders - Lessons from Danone Canada's Frédéric Guichard
Today, Danone’s market leadership expands beyond the yogurt category, pioneering plant-powered beverages, leading the way with innovation and a science-based approach.
Some examples:
Danone Canada produces some of consumers’ most-loved and trusted brands: Oikos, Activia, Danone, Silk, Evian, International Delight, Stōk, Two Good and So Delicious. For its efforts, the company has become No. 1 in yogurt and in plant-based foods and beverages in Canada.
Danone Canada also has a national production network anchored by the flagship Boucherville plant, which recently announced historic investments to increase its production capacity and the sustainability of its operations. The plant produces more than one in three dairy yogurts sold in Canada, making it a central pillar of the country’s yogurt supply chain.
With headquarters in Toronto and Boucherville, Danone Canada today employs more than 500 people and is recognized among Canada’s Top 100 Employers
Next
Looking ahead, Danone Canada’s priorities reflect the intersection of health, nutrition and continued
local impact:
1. Continuing leadership in health-focused categories—The company is committed to deepening innovation in high-growth segments, aligned with consumer trends such as high-protein yogurt, plant-powered, digestive and gut health.
2. Scaling sustainable, local production—To support Canadian families and continue focus on health and wellness, the multimillion-dollar Boucherville expansion (coming this year) will modernize operations, increase capacity and enhance energy efficiency through investments in energy-recovery technology. The company intends to build on its foundation as the largest consumer-facing Certified B Corp in Canada by continuing to integrate environmental responsibility across its supply chain, packaging, operations and community partnerships.
READ: Danone invests $9M in Quebec plant to develop sustainable packaging
3. Strengthening community impact and partnerships—Through ongoing initiatives—such as its longstanding collaboration with Breakfast Club of Canada and programs supporting farmers and food system resilience—Danone Canada will maintain its focus on social impact and providing Canadians access to nutritious food, especially for breakfast.
