Danone sells Danao in France

A spokesman for Danone told Agence France-Presse last week that the sale is part of the group's streamlining strategy as the company shifts focus to fresh dairy products, bottled water and its proposed purchase of nutrition group Numico.

According to Agence France-presse, Danao represents only 1.4 per cent of Danone's annual turnover.

Gabriella Colletti, head of PR at Danone France, told DairyReporter.com that the company is only selling the Danao brand in France.

"Danone France will still own the brand in countries as diverse as Tunisia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Portugal," she said.

Danone France refused to discuss the current financial position of the Danao brand in France at this time, and neither Danone nor CCLF would divulge the price of the sale.

France-based CCLF is the second biggest cider producer in France, with an annual turnover of €38m. Odile Desbrueres, a CCLF spokesperson, told DairyReporter.com that it exports produce to countries all over the world, especially to the continent, and that "the acquisition of the Danao brand would help the company to expand its range of fruit juices".

Danone has been the focus of media attention in recent months due to a number of sales and acquisitions.

Earlier this month Danone announced it would sell its biscuit and cereals division to Kraft, consolidating the US food giant's number one position as the world's top biscuit maker.

Last week Danone said it would purchase Numico, a Dutch group focusing on baby food and clinical nutrition products.

The France-based company is reportedly interested in Wimm-Bill-Dann, the Russian dairy group.