Groupe Danone Becomes Majority Shareholder of Stonyfield Farm

Groupe Danone Becomes Majority Shareholder of Stonyfield Farm

PARISOn Jan. 12, GroupeDanone reported it became the majority shareholder in Stonyfield Farm, the No. 1brand in the U.S. organic yogurt market. Groupe Danone (www.danonegroup.com)previously had a 40-percent interest in the company; now it has 80 percent.

Gary Hirshberg, chairman and chief executive officer ofStonyfield, will continue managing the company based on its founding principles.Groupe Danone also reported it will continue financing the ecological programProfit for the Planet, through which Stonyfield Farm donates 10 percent ofits profits to environmental causes.