Pots of Activia yoghurt, manufactured by Danone SA, sit on show.
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The CEO of French shopper items large Danone downplayed the specter of weight problems medicine on its meals enterprise, arguing that buyers have been more likely to flip to wholesome merchandise as a part of their new weight reduction regime.
Antoine de Saint-Affrique stated that surging demand for medicine like Wegovy and Mounjaro would solely enhance shopper urge for food for extra dietary merchandise.
“We see ourselves as extraordinarily complementary to GLP-1s,” de Saint-Affrique advised CNBC’s Charlotte Reed Wednesday.
GLP-1s, or glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists, are the underlying class of medicine in weight reduction injections reminiscent of Wegovy and Mounjaro. They work by mimicking urge for food regulating hormones within the physique and successfully lowering starvation ranges.
The speedy rise of such medicine has prompted concern amongst meals makers, who concern falling gross sales as shopper urge for food wanes. The CEO of Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk stated in February that he was fielding calls from “scared” meals chiefs asking how the brand new pharmaceutical class would possibly have an effect on their companies.
Nevertheless, de Saint-Affrique stated that Danone’s merchandise, which embrace Activia yoghurts and Alpro plant-based milks, can be an vital part of shoppers’ new diets.
“We offer protein and protein that you simply can’t discover naturally,” he stated. “It’s essential have these proteins and in case you are underneath the regime, you’ll miss these proteins. We will carry them we contribute to your intestine well being,” he stated.
“We are literally on the coronary heart of what’s wanted if you’re utilizing one thing like GLP-1,” de Saint-Affrique added.
Analysts at monetary providers analysis agency Kepler Cheuvreux stated in a analysis notice final month that considerations over the impression of GLP-1s on the patron items market could also be overblown, notably within the dietary meals area.
“GLP-1 customers might eat fewer energy, however we don’t see a cloth impression on total meals demand, whereas we see alternatives for meals makers of protein merchandise and food plan dietary supplements,” Jon Cox, head of European shopper equities, wrote in an emailed notice.
“Whereas shoppers might shun bad-for-you ultraprocessed meals (UPFs), we consider European firms typically have more healthy portfolios in comparison with some rivals,” he added.
Kepler Cheuvreux named Danone and Swiss meals maker Nestle as potential beneficiaries within the new shopper items panorama. Jefferies final month additionally named Danone as a purchase amid a wider downturn within the meals sector as shoppers reduce spending within the face of excessive inflation.
