Food Dive reported the development on 2025-09-18. The yogurt giant reportedly didn’t believe the two companies could work together effectively and wanted to pursue opportunities within its own portfolio.
The report places the news in a wider commercial context. Danone is no longer pursuing an acquisition of kefir maker Lifeway Foods, the dairy giant said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Oikos maker also is reviewing options for its roughly 23% stake in Lifeway, which could include a sale.
For the food sector, the practical implications extend beyond the immediate announcement. Danone proposed buying Lifeway in September 2024 for $25 a share before increasing the offer to $27 two months later. Lifeway rejected both proposals, saying Danone undervalued the Illinois company. Danone has been a shareholder in Lifeway for more than two decades and was exploring a third attempt at an acquisition just last month.
Attention now turns to how companies, customers and regulators respond. While kefir sales have soared due to their digestion and protein benefits, Danone appears to believe the benefits of adding Lifeway are no longer worth exploring, at least at the price tag being sought. Danone is no stranger to healthy dairy products, with a yogurt portfolio that includes probiotic-focused Activia and low-sugar Too Good yogurts. Recently, the company brought its Oikos.
Food Dive
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