Danone has officially acquired The Akkermansia Company, a Belgian firm known for its innovative work in biotics, for an undisclosed amount.
In a corporate statement, Danone, the owner of the popular yogurt brand Activia, emphasized that “expanding deeper into gut health is a key facet” of its growth strategy.
Established as a spin-off from UCLouvain in Belgium and Wageningen University in the Netherlands, The Akkermansia Company is renowned for discovering and developing the biotic strain Akkermansia muciniphila MucT in 2004.
Danone highlighted that clinical studies have evidenced the strain’s ability to reinforce the gut barrier, reduce inflammation, and tackle metabolic disorders, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
When approached, Danone opted not to provide further details regarding the rationale behind the acquisition.
In a separate announcement, The Akkermansia Company stated it holds “broad patents” over the Akkermansia species, notably its pasteurized strain, MucT, “which is its most bio-efficacious form.”
CEO Michael Oredsson remarked that this acquisition presents the company with “the resources to accelerate global growth of the pasteurized Akkermansia muciniphila MucT strain and develop our brands faster.”
Since launching in Belgium in 2021, The Akkermansia Company has notably extended its sales footprint into Europe, North America, and Asia.
Key offerings from the company include supplement products. Notably, it markets a postbiotic supplement priced at $69.95 that “promotes weight management” and “supports a healthy gut.”
Integrating gut health into its portfolio, Danone’s Essential Dairy & Plant-Based (EDP) segment also features popular plant-based milk alternatives, such as International Delight and Silk.
In its recent 2024 annual report, released earlier this week, CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique announced the group’s initiative in building the “Danone of tomorrow,” part of a Renew strategy initiated in 2022 aimed at fostering profitable growth.
Saint-Affrique noted that this plan involves “gradually pivoting the way we address our categories, including high protein and gut health,” alongside “further expanding our geographic footprint.”
In 2024, 49.2% of Danone’s net sales, equating to €13.36 billion ($15.64 billion) of a total €27.37 billion, derived from EDP products.
The French conglomerate asserted in its annual report that it will “continue to invest in research and contribute to the scientific field to demonstrate how nutrition can impact health from early life to aging, with a key focus on gut health.”
The acquisition of The Akkermansia Company follows Danone’s ongoing endeavors to acquire the remaining shares of Lifeway Foods, where it has maintained a 23% stake since 1999.
Based in the United States, Lifeway Foods manufactures probiotic-rich products that emphasize gut health. However, the company has consistently rebuffed Danone’s offers for total acquisition, arguing that the proposals undervalue their business.
