Celebrating The Next Generation and The Love Of Food
In 1919 Isaac Carasso created the first yoghurt in Spain with the humble mission to improve the health of children. The centennial celebration of Danone’s journey is themed; The Next Generation and aim to share the love of healthy food to the children and future next generation of South Africans. During 2019 Danone Southern Africa invited over 300 Grade Four learners to visit the factory to learn ‘How Yoghurt Is Made’.
Carasso applied his experience and knowledge as a doctor and scientist to develop a product which would combat unhealthy living conditions of children; an aspiration that remains at the heart of our Danone’s daily vision: Health through Food to as Many People as Possible. This is the story of a pioneering father and son who, inspired by the goodness of yogurt, dedicated themselves to share its simplicity and naturality with generations to come across the globe. Mixing ferments and fresh milk, he made a yogurt, which he affectionately named “Danone” after his son, Daniel
“It’s incredibly important for children to understand where their food comes from and being SA’s largest yoghurt producer, we’re in a unique position to provide children with a genuinely memorable educational experience,” says Hendrik Born, Managing Director of Danone Southern Africa. Danone produces up to three million products in the Boksburg based factory on a daily basis and now for the first time ever learners will gain experience of how dairy based products like UHT custard, spoonable yoghurt and drinking yoghurt is made. Danone is working with the Gauteng Department of Education and school teachers across the province to develop an immersive learning experience that is curriculum-linked and will engage children’s cognitive abilities and senses. “The tour teaches the nutritional benefits of yoghurt, and also the journey of how yoghurt makes its way from our dairy farms across South Africa to your fridge at home,” says Mr Ashraf Dawood, Deputy Chief Education Specialist: Policy and Planning from the Gauteng Department of Education: District Tshwane North.” According to Mr Dawood the educational quality of the How Yoghurt Is Made Tour far exceeds that of what he has experienced in this channel over the last 21 years he has been working in this industry. “Teaching children the lifelong habit of healthy eating is a fundamental value that will not be forgotten.”
Through a century of revolutionary change, Danone’s business has grown from yoghurts sold in the pharmacies of Barcelona to a range of foods and drinks enjoyed by millions of people around the world. Born explains that the ‘One Planet. One Health’ vision is not only linked to the values behind the very first Danone yogurt – quality products made with carefully selected ingredients in a way that nourishes the health of people, “but we also take care of the planet. Building on a ground-breaking commitment in the 1970s to deliver business success with social progress, we are committed to working with South African stakeholders such as farmers, local government and communities in embracing the food revolution, inspiring more people to make healthier and sustainable food choices every day.
Visit the www.opoh.co.za website for more information on the One Planet One Health vision.
Media Inquiries:
Gisela Kruger
Gisela.kruger@danone.com
0716772643
About Danone (www.danone.com)
Dedicated to bringing health through food to as many people as possible, Danone is a leading global food company built on four business lines: Fresh Dairy Products, Early Life Nutrition, Waters and Medical Nutrition. Through its mission and dual commitment to business success and social progress, the company aims to build a healthier future, thanks to better health, better lives and a better world, for all its stakeholders—its 100,000 employees, consumers, customers, suppliers, shareholders and all the communities with which it engages. Present in over 130 markets, Danone generated sales of approximately €22 billion in 2016. Danone’s brand portfolio includes both international brands (Activia, Actimel, Danette, Danonino, Danio, evian, Volvic, Nutrilon/Aptamil, Nutricia) and local brands (Oikos, Prostokvashino, Aqua, Bonafont, Mizone, Blédina, Cow & Gate). Listed on Euronext Paris and on the OTCQX market via an ADR (American Depositary Receipt) program, Danone is a component stock of leading social responsibility indexes including the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, Vigeo, the Ethibel Sustainability Index, MSCI Global Sustainability, MSCI Global SRI Indexes and the FTSE4Good Index.
