Nestle and Danone not Threatened by Weight Loss Drugs as They Eye Production of Nutritional Products

By Thea Felicity

Apr 04, 2024 11:38 AM EDT

SWITZERLAND-ECONOMY-FOOD-BEVERAGE-RESULTS
A picture taken on February 21, 2024 show the logo of Swiss food giant Nestle on the company's headquarters in Vevey, western Switzerland. Food giant Nestle said, on February 22, 2024, net profits last year rose 20.9 percent to 11.2 billion Swiss francs ($12.7 billion) after increasing prices of its products to offset growing costs.
(Photo : Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

In a recent interview with CNBC, the CEO of Danone, a leading French consumer goods company, brushed aside concerns regarding the impact of weight loss drugs on the food industry. 

Instead, Antoine de Saint-Affrique pressed that the growing demand for medications like Wegovy and Mounjaro could stimulate interest in healthier food options.

"We see ourselves as extremely complementary to GLP-1s," de Saint-Affrique stated, referring to the class of drugs that includes Wegovy and Mounjaro, which mimic appetite-regulating hormones.

The surge in popularity of these drugs has raised worries among food manufacturers about potential sales declines. However, de Saint-Affrique expressed confidence in Danone's product lineup, which includes items like Activia yogurts and Alpro plant-based milk, asserting that they would remain essential to consumers' dietary choices.

Earlier this year, VCPost reported several positive weight loss drug trials, with Novo Nordisk taking the lead.

READ NEXT: Novo Nordisk Now The 12th Most Valuable Company After Positive Weight Loss Pill Trial, Surpassing Tesla

Now, analysts at financial services research firm Kepler Cheuvreux echoed de Saint-Affrique's sentiment, suggesting that concerns over the impact of GLP-1s on the food market may be overstated, particularly in the realm of nutritional foods.

While acknowledging consumers' potential to reduce calorie intake, Jon Cox, head of European consumer equities at Kepler Cheuvreux, highlighted opportunities for food makers specializing in protein products and diet supplements.

This means that despite industry concerns about the impact of factors like the rise of weight loss drugs, both Danone and Nestle are seen as companies that could gain advantages in the changing consumer goods market.

Jefferies, a financial services company, has specifically suggested investing in Danone, recognizing it as a favorable option.

READ MORE: Cigna to Expand Weight Loss Drug Insurance Coverage, Strikes Deals with Eli Lilly & Novo Nordisk

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