National Post (National Edition)
When Good Business and Good Health Go Hand in Hand
When your business is healthy living, you ensure the health of your business by being a force for good. That’s how Danone sees it.
Over the last few decades, there has been a reckoning in the Canadian conversation on corporate social responsibility. Canadians have been consistently taking companies to task on issues of sustainability, governance, and social impact. And, across every sector, organizations are adapting and responding, working to mitigate harm and manage expectations. It is the rare company indeed that can make a solid case for having been a consistent force for good all along, with a philosophy, portfolio, and approach that ensures its success is intrinsically tied to the health of Canadians and the well-being of the planet.
Jeremy Oxley is a Senior Vice President of Marketing at Danone Canada, where — since the Danone Group’s beginnings in the 1970s — the primary mission has been promoting health through sustainable and nutritious food and beverage products. This commitment to the public good has made Danone the largest consumer-facing certified B-Corp in Canada, and they continue to advocate for the highest standards in social, economic, and environmental practices.
“Historically, we have embraced a dual project which intertwines doing well economically with doing good socially, believing firmly that economic and social success should advance hand in hand,” says Oxley. “At Danone, we are guided by a deep sense of responsibility and purpose, which extends far beyond our factory doors; we are committed to a mission of bringing health through food to as many people as possible.”
Food security depends on the ability to make healthy choices
Yogurt has always been a nutritious food choice, but as a science-driven organization that is expanding that knowledge to new categories of products such as plant-based, water, and specialized nutrition, Danone has dedicated itself to continually fostering a deeper understanding of human nutrition and evolving its product line to reflect modern scientific consensus on what constitutes a healthy diet. This rigorous commitment to nutrition and education has become especially important in the new era of food insecurity.
“Food insecurity is a complex issue that goes beyond the mere availability of food,” says Oxley. “It's about ensuring that people have access to nutritious food that nurtures their health and enables them to reach their full potential. It's about returning to the fundamentals, being conscious of what we consume, and understanding the benefits of our dietary choices for our gut health, protein intake, and overall well-being. To combat food insecurity in Canada, we must focus on food literacy, empowering people with knowledge about what nourishes their bodies and minds.”
We are guided by a deep sense of responsibility and purpose, which extends far beyond our factory doors; we are committed to a mission of bringing health through food.
Keeping healthy food delicious as palates change
The bold vision of bringing health through food to as many people as possible — whether on grocery store shelves or through partnerships with non-profits like Breakfast Club of Canada — is made easier by the fact Canadians already love yogurt. But though it is a classic and simple food, the role of yogurt in the Canadian diet is constantly evolving.
“As Canadians have become more educated about their food choices and the experiences they seek from eating, we've noticed significant shifts in their behavior,” says Oxley. “The launch of our yogurt brand Two Good in Canada two years ago is a great example of consumers wanting not only sugar reduction, which we strive for across our portfolio, but added health benefits. The response has been tremendous. Many Canadians also adopt a flexitarian diet, balancing animal-based and plant-based foods to align with their health and environmental values. At Danone, we humbly recognize our leadership across various categories, with products like Activia leading the dairy and gut health segment and Silk in plant-based alternatives. This leadership position reinforces our sense of responsibility to create products that not only meet the desires and needs of Canadians but also contribute positively to the planet and the well-being of Canadians.”
And so, in a social climate which has companies across Canada scrambling to present a case for social responsibility, Danone is an outlier. Because their success has always been contingent on a healthy future. “When we do better as a company,” says Oxley, “we truly believe that Canada will be a healthier and more sustainable place.