Danone Acquired Plant-Based Food Brand Follow Your Heart

International food and beverage giant Danone announced today it is in the process of acquiring Earth Island, the maker of Follow Your Heart brands and a pioneering leader in plant-based foods.

The companies have entered into a share purchase agreement under which Danone will acquire 100% of the shares of Earth Island. Earth Island represents a strong cultural fit with Danone and provides Danone with a unique opportunity to strengthen its plant-based business.

Earth Island is a pioneer in plant-based food industry.  The company owns iconic vegan mayonnaise brand Veganaise and a popular dairy-free cheese brand Follow Your Heart—offering shredded and sliced plant-based cheese, grated and shredded plant-based parmesan and cream cheese alternatives. The brand also offers delicious plant-based sour cream, vegan salad dressings, and VeganEgg - egg replacement.  All of the products are naturally dairy-free, gluten-free and cholesterol-free and made with all-natural, non-GMO ingredients.

Follow Your Heart Brands have been a leader in the dairy-free, plant-based industry for over 50 years.

As part of the Danone family, Earth Island will be able to accelerate the growth of the Follow Your Heart brand nationally and internationally alongside some of Danone's best-known plant-based brands, including Alpro, Silk and So Delicious Dairy Free. 

"Our mission has always been to produce the best plant-based food products and to make them available to as many people as possible," said Bob Goldberg, co-founder and CEO of Earth Island. "We're very pleased to be joining the Danone family of plant-based companies in a collective effort to bring positive change in the world through the creation of sustainably and responsibly-made foods."

As a global leader in plant-based food and drinks, Danone is committed to bringing a variety of delicious plant-based offerings to consumers. The latest partnership will enable Danone to expand its plant-based product range to provide consumers with plant-based alternatives for every occasion throughout their day. Together, the two companies will continue to lead the plant-based revolution to support the health of people and planet.

Earth Island is committed to environmentally sustainable business practices. The company manufactures its products in a solar-powered facility which has been Platinum-level Zero Waste certified, the highest possible status, under the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) certification system. 

"We are delighted to welcome Follow Your Heart's team to our amazing team at Danone," said Shane Grant, EVP and CEO, Danone North America. "The Follow Your Heart family shares our commitment to producing high-quality products that delight consumers while contributing to the wellbeing of People and Planet. Consumers are increasingly eating flexitarian diets, and we look forward to working with the Follow Your Heart team to offer our consumers even more choices. This partnership will build on our success in plant-based beverages, yogurt alternatives and creamers, further accelerating the growth of our North American plant-based business."