“The year 2022 was marked by a difficult external context and unprecedented volatility”: at the head of Danone since September 15, 2021, Antoine de Saint-Affrique presented his first full annual results on Tuesday, February 22.
The French agrifood champion (Gallia, Activia, Danette, Alpro, Evian etc.) posts net sales of 27.6 billion euros in 2022, up 7.8% compared to the year last (like-for-like). The level of sales was driven by the price effect (8.7%).
“2022 has not only been a year of revamping our strategy and transformation, the past months have mostly marked significant progress and solid performance. We closed the year with like-for-like growth of 7.8%, thanks to a contribution from all our geographies and all our categories,” said Antoine de Saint-Affrique.
In March 2022, the latter unveiled its strategy, called Renew Danone, to investors. The idea: to reconnect with a profitable and sustainable growth model, and with the creation of value. In this context, the company is engaged in an overhaul of its brand portfolio, with the aim of shedding the least efficient ones. Thus the company announced at the end of January that it wanted to separate from Horizon Organic and Wallaby, distributed in the United States. A few months ago, she decided to leave Russia – the exit from this country is being finalized.
“In 2023, we will continue our transformation and continue to invest in our brands, our products and our capabilities, while delivering results in line with the medium-term objectives announced last year”, outlined the horizon of the CEO. .
Concretely, he aims for revenue growth of between 3 and 5% and a “moderate” improvement in the current operating margin.
On the sidelines of the presentation of these results, Antoine de Saint-Affrique announced that he had entrusted a “mission” to Muriel Pénicaud in social matters. The former Minister of Labor managed the human resources of Danone (100,000 employees), until 2014. Surrounded by a group of experts – whose names are not yet known -, she will have to formulate proposals so that Danone redefines its “new social pact”, also taking into account climate issues. The one that her former Danoners colleagues nicknamed “Mumu” will have to submit her report next September. In his own words, Antoine de Saint-Affrique had inherited a “tired, traumatized” Danone upon his arrival after the media dismissal of his predecessor, Emmanuel Faber.
