Meiji invests US$11.5M in Danone’s tablet infant-formula production in Ireland

IRELAND – Meiji, a Japanese dairy company, has provided a further investment of €10.5 million (US$11.5 million) for Danone’s tablet infant-formula production at the French dairy giant’s plant in Wexford, Ireland.

Meiji Food Europe, established in Amsterdam in 2020 under a manufacturing agreement with Danone’s Specialized Nutrition division, is supplying the new funds to increase production capacity of the pre-measured dissolvable tab format formula.

The tablet formula, introduced in the UK in 2021 under Danone’s Aptamil brand, has seen expansion into other European markets, including France, Italy, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in the following year.

Meiji Holdings, the parent company, stated that its subsidiary, Meiji Co., will provide the funds equivalent to the amount needed for increasing production capacity.

The investment is expected to facilitate the introduction of new production equipment designed based on the state-of-the-art equipment at Meiji’s Saitama factory, aiming for increased efficiency.

Meiji Holdings revealed that it has now invested a total of €22.5 million in the joint venture with Danone.

The collaboration between Meiji and Danone was formalized in a memorandum of understanding in May 2020, with Meiji’s tablet production technology utilized to produce infant formula based on Danone’s recipes.

By incorporating Meiji’s tablet production technology at Danone’s Wexford facility, the French company aimed to source and produce formula milk locally for the UK market, contributing to a reduction in carbon footprint.

The investment follows a cut price by Danone

The partnership between the two companies demonstrated a commitment to innovation and sustainability in the production of infant formula, aligning with the evolving preferences of consumers in the baby nutrition segment.

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