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Danone has announced plans to acquire Australian health-focused food and beverage company Made Group, alongside the remaining stake in its Australian fresh dairy joint venture with Saputo Dairy Australia, in a move that significantly expands its footprint in the Asia-Pacific healthy nutrition market.

The transactions, announced on 22 June, are part of Danone’s ongoing Renew strategy, which combines organic growth with targeted acquisitions, aimed at strengthening its position in high-growth health and nutrition categories.

Under the agreement, Danone will acquire Melbourne-based Made Group, a fast-growing business with annual sales exceeding €300 million for the fiscal year ending June 2026.

Made has built a strong portfolio across high-protein ready-to-drink beverages, gut-health yogurts and coconut-based products, categories that continue to benefit from rising consumer demand for functional and better-for-you foods.

The company has established a significant presence in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, supported by in-house manufacturing capabilities, innovation expertise and an extensive route-to-market network. Danone said Made has consistently delivered double-digit growth and attractive margins, and is expected to contribute meaningfully to its Essential Dairy and Plant-Based (EDP) business in the region.

In parallel, Danone will acquire the remaining 49% stake in its existing fresh dairy joint venture with Saputo Dairy Australia. The venture has provided the French food and beverage group with a strong position in Australia’s functional yoghurt segment through brands including YoPRO, Activia and Ultimate.

Danone chief executive officer Antoine de Saint-Affrique said: “With its strong portfolio of brands and healthy nutritional products, focusing on gut health and protein, Made shows an impressive track record of rapid and profitable growth. This is another example of our Renew strategy at work, combining a strong focus on organic growth with targeted investments that further enhance our ability to meet demand for healthy nutrition.”

Amanda Butler, chief executive officer of Made Group, said joining Danone would provide access to additional infrastructure, research and development expertise, and broader capabilities to accelerate growth across Asia-Pacific markets.

The acquisitions underscore the growing importance of functional nutrition, protein-rich products and gut-health offerings within the global food and beverage sector. Industry analysts have identified these categories as among the fastest-growing segments in packaged foods, particularly across Asia-Pacific markets where health-conscious consumption continues to rise.

The latest deals follow a series of strategic investments by Danone in health-focused nutrition businesses, including the signing of UK meal replacement brand Huel and the acquisitions of biotic specialist Akkermansia and specialised nutrition company Kate Farms.

Both transactions remain subject to customary regulatory approvals and are expected to close during the second half of 2026.