The Hindu Business Line : The ‘little champions’ of Groupe Danone

Mr Sven Thormahlen and Mr Gérard Denariaz hardly look like warriors researching biological warfare. Yet, that is exactly what they are doing, with a difference though. The friendly bacteria that they are researching are meant to preserve and enhance health and not destroy it and their work is meant to help conquer not countries but consumers for French dairy major Groupe Danone.

Mr Thormahlen and Mr Denariaz, lead a team of 362 scientists conducting cutting edge research on probiotics at Danone’s Daniel Carasso Research Centre, a 90-minute drive from Paris. The high security centre, named after one of the founders of Groupe Danone, boasts a collection of 3,500 lactic bacterial strains or “our little champions” as Mr Denariaz affectionately refers to them. These “little champions” are used to produce innovative ferments that are then patented and commercialised by Groupe Danone.

It is indeed amazing to see how much the simple yoghurt, a staple of most Indian households, has been improved and innovated upon and turned into a health food by Danone purely by employing probiotics, which are nothing but live bacteria which when ingested in proper quantity have a beneficial effect on the host.

Thus, you have yoghurt that helps you control cholesterol, yes, actually reduce the bad cholesterol in your body. Branded Danacol, the product is a blockbuster in Danone’s range. There is also Actimel, which is probiotic milk that aids digestion by introducing friendly bacteria into the digestive tract; yet another winner for Danone.

And then, there is Essensis, a yoghurt category introduced as recently as in February, which is claimed to enhance skin beauty by “working from within” as opposed to skin creams that work from the outside.

The important point to note is that these products are put through the entire process of clinical trials and testing and the beneficial effects are validated by the authorities. Mr Thormahlen and his colleagues are tasked with turning the simple yoghurt into a nutrition and health food even while keeping it palatable and affordable.

The €14-billion Danone invests 1.2 per cent of its turnover, approximately €170 million (Rs 1,000 crore) every year in R&D activity. Apart from yogurts, research is also focussed on the two other businesses of Danone — beverages and biscuits. Danone hopes to introduce these probiotic yoghurt and milk products in India once it secures the requisite approvals to set up an independent venture in the country.

More Stories on : Food & Dairy Products | Research & Development | Health

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Torrential rain forecast in central, north India

Cement shares jump as Finance Minister denies price control

Corporate investments abroad clock $6.4 b in Q3

The ‘little champions’ of Groupe Danone

Rewards await CEOs for reviving Central PSUs

Pipeline talks: India, Pakistan agree upon transportation fee

IDBI rides on IFCI prospects

SBI expects rise in home loan defaults due to higher EMIs

Investors turn to cos in mid-cap sector at lower valuations

SBI plans holding co for insurance, asset management

Raja wants GoM meeting on spectrum issue put off

Shifting venue

Mobile gaming — big hit in small towns