Danone CEO Emmanuel Faber said several factors contributed to a three percent rise in the company’s share price and signified continued growth. Among the factors were the premiumization of Danone’s offering in early childhood nutrition in China, broad-based growth in waters, and gradual improvement in essential dairy and plant-based activities. The water business, which includes the Evian brand, experienced a four percent rise in sales, but dairy sales in Europe, though improving, still dropped 0.3 percent in the first quarter compared to the same period last year. Faber said demand for baby formulas in China – fed by a sharp rise in birth rates – helped boost like-for-like sales by almost five percent.
"China’s baby boom lifts French dairy group Danone", Financial Times, April 18, 2018
The founder and chairman of China’s Hangzhou Wahaha Group says he wants to “ramp up efforts on health products” to battle problems such as diabetes, obesity, and insomnia. The Chinese health product market was valued at $64 billion in 2017; more than 16,000 products are registered and approved for production. Zong Qinghou said Wahaha invest in high-tech and advanced manufacturing companies by partnering with experienced industry leaders. Wahaha is the largest beverage producer in China.
"Nutrition to be top focus for Wahaha", China Daily, April 13, 2018
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