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Danone is a global food and beverage company best known for dairy and plant-based products, waters, and specialized nutrition. With brands that span everyday grocery staples and science-backed nutrition categories, Danone is often evaluated on the quality of its growth (volume/mix vs. price), margin performance, and cash generation.
This post compiles a clear set of current, verifiable Danone metrics—anchored to Danone’s official 2024 reporting.
Danone’s Latest Annual Results (2024)
- Sales (net sales): €27,376 million
- Like-for-like sales growth: +4.3%
- Recurring operating margin: 13.0%
- Recurring EPS: €3.63
- Free cash flow: €3,003 million
- Dividend per share (proposed): €2.15
Key Metrics Table
| Metric | Figure | Year | What it signals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales (net sales) | €27,376M | 2024 | Overall scale of Danone’s business |
| Like-for-like sales growth | +4.3% | 2024 | Underlying growth excluding FX/scope effects |
| Recurring operating income | €3,558M | 2024 | Core profitability from operations |
| Recurring operating margin | 13.0% | 2024 | Efficiency and pricing/mix strength |
| Recurring EPS | €3.63 | 2024 | Per-share earnings measure used widely by investors |
| Free cash flow | €3,003M | 2024 | Cash generation after capex—helps fund dividends/deleveraging |
What Danone Actually Sells
Danone operates across major food and beverage categories, with an emphasis on health and nutrition positioning. In practice, that means a portfolio that can include:
- Essential Dairy & Plant-Based: yogurts, dairy drinks, plant-based alternatives
- Waters: bottled water brands and related beverages
- Specialized Nutrition: infant nutrition and medical nutrition
Why Margin and Free Cash Flow Matter for Danone
For consumer staples companies, revenue alone doesn’t tell the full story. Investors and analysts watch:
- Margin expansion: whether efficiency gains and mix improvements are sustainable
- Free cash flow: the fuel for dividends, debt reduction, and reinvestment
- Volume/mix performance: whether growth is coming from real demand rather than only price increases
In 2024, Danone reported a recurring operating margin of 13.0% and free cash flow of €3.0B, both key indicators of operating discipline and financial flexibility.
FAQ
What were Danone’s sales in 2024?
Danone reported €27,376 million in sales (net sales) for 2024.
What was Danone’s recurring operating margin in 2024?
The reported recurring operating margin was 13.0% in 2024.
How much free cash flow did Danone generate in 2024?
Danone reported €3,003 million in free cash flow for 2024.
What does “like-for-like” growth mean?
It’s a way to measure underlying growth that adjusts for things like currency movements and changes in the business scope (acquisitions/divestitures).
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