Danone vs Hormel: Founders, CEOs and History
Danone was founded in 1919 by Isaac Carasso and is led by Antoine de Saint-Affrique. Hormel was founded in 1891 by George A. Hormel and is led by Jeffrey M. Ettinger.
Company facts
Founders
Danone
Isaac Carasso
Isaac Carasso founded Danone in Barcelona in 1919, naming the yogurt after his son Daniel ('Danon' in Catalan).
Hormel
George A. Hormel
George A. Hormel (1860-1946) founded Geo. A. Hormel & Co. in Austin, Minnesota in 1891. He established a small meatpacking facility that heavily emphasized minimizing waste, utilizing every part of the hog.
CEOs and their tenures
Danone
- Antoine Riboud1973–1996
Former CEO and Architect of modern Danone
He turned a regional glass manufacturer into one of France's largest food groups, and his dual-project idea still frames Danone's mission status and B Corp certification.
Source - Franck Riboud1996–2014
Former CEO and Chairman
He pushed Danone deeper into emerging markets in Asia, Latin America and Africa and co-created Grameen Danone Foods with Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh in 2006.
Source - Emmanuel Faber2014–2021
Former CEO and Chairman
Faber was praised for ESG leadership but criticized by activist investors such as Bluebell Capital and Artisan Partners for lagging sales growth, margins and share-price returns versus Nestle and Unilever. The board removed him in March 2021.
Source - Antoine de Saint-Affrique2021–present
Chief Executive Officer
Under his leadership like-for-like sales growth returned to the 3-5% range with positive volume/mix, recurring operating margin rose from 12.2% in 2022 to 13.4% in 2025 and recurring EPS reached EUR3.80.
Source
Hormel
- Joel W. Johnson1993–2005
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
He moved Hormel toward branded and convenience foods. Jeffrey Ettinger succeeded him at the start of 2006.
Source - Jim Snee2016–2025
Former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Snee broadened Hormel into snacking, but his final years were marked by commodity inflation, turkey weakness and falling profits. He retired as CEO in July 2025 and agreed to stay on as an advisor during the transition.
Source - John Ghingo2025–present
President; CEO effective October 26, 2026
As CEO-elect he is focused on priority brands, foodservice growth and portfolio shaping, including the Brakebush chicken acquisition.
Source - Jeffrey M. Ettinger2025–2026
Interim Chief Executive Officer
As interim CEO he oversaw the Transform and Modernize cost program, the Brazil divestiture and the Brakebush agreement, while adjusted earnings returned to growth in fiscal 2026.
Source
Timeline: Danone and Hormel side by side
1891Hormel
George A. Hormel & Company Founded
George A. Hormel starts the company in Austin, Minnesota.
1919Danone
Danone founded in Barcelona
Isaac Carasso establishes Danone in Barcelona, Spain, producing yogurt as a medicinal product for children with digestive issues.
1929Danone
Expansion to France
Daniel Carasso founds the Societe Parisienne du Yoghourt Danone in Paris, turning the Barcelona pharmacy product into a French consumer brand.
1937Hormel
SPAM Introduced
Hormel introduces SPAM, creating one of the world's most recognizable shelf-stable protein brands.
1941Danone
Entry into the United States
Daniel Carasso flees Nazi-occupied France for New York, where he co-founds Dannon Milk Products in the Bronx in 1942, introducing the brand to American consumers.
1966Danone
BSN formed through glass merger
Antoine Riboud merges glassmakers Souchon-Neuvesel and Boussois to create BSN, the industrial group that would later become Danone.
1970Danone
BSN enters food and beverages
BSN buys Evian, Kronenbourg and Bledina, moving from glass into beverages and baby food. Evian remains Danone's flagship premium water brand.
1985Hormel
Austin Plant Strike
Workers at the Hormel plant in Austin, Minnesota, went on strike in August 1985 in a dispute that lasted into 1986.
1993Hormel
Renamed Hormel Foods
Geo. A. Hormel and Company was renamed Hormel Foods Corporation in 1993.
1994Danone
Corporate name change to Danone
The company changes its name from BSN to Danone, reflecting the food and beverage business's dominance over the original glass operations. This rebranding completes the transformation from an industrial conglomerate into a focused health-food company.
2001Hormel
Jennie-O Acquisition
Hormel expands its turkey platform through Jennie-O Turkey Store.
2007Danone
Numico acquisition for ~$13.9 billion (EUR12.3 billion)
Danone acquires Dutch baby-food and medical nutrition group Royal Numico for about $13.9 billion (EUR12.3 billion) and sells its LU biscuit business to Kraft, creating today's Specialized Nutrition category (Aptamil, Nutrilon, Nutricia).
2013Hormel
Skippy Acquisition
Hormel acquires Skippy, adding a major peanut-butter brand to the portfolio.
2015Hormel
Acquired Applegate Farms
Hormel Foods acquired Applegate Farms for $775 million. Hormel executed a strategic acquisition of Applegate Farms for $775 million to capture the rapidly growing consumer demand for natural, organic, and antibiotic-free premium meat products.
2017Danone
WhiteWave acquisition for about $12.5 billion
Danone completes its roughly USD12.5 billion (including debt) acquisition of WhiteWave Foods in April 2017, adding Silk, Alpro, So Delicious and Horizon Organic and becoming a global leader in plant-based foods.
2021Danone
Antoine de Saint-Affrique becomes CEO
Former Barry Callebaut CEO and Unilever executive Antoine de Saint-Affrique becomes CEO on September 15, 2021, after the board removed Emmanuel Faber in March 2021 under activist pressure.
2021Hormel
Planters Acquisition
Hormel acquires the Planters snack nuts portfolio from Kraft Heinz.
2023Danone
EDP Russia exit and US organic dairy divestiture
Russia places Danone's local dairy business under temporary state management in July 2023; Danone deconsolidates it and agrees in 2023-2024 to sell it, while also selling U.S. organic dairy brands Horizon Organic and Wallaby to Platinum Equity.
2024Danone
Renew Danone delivers volume-led growth
Danone reports FY2024 sales of ~$30.9B (EUR27.376B), up 4.3% like-for-like, with recurring operating margin of 13.0% and free cash flow of ~$3.39B (EUR3.0B).
2025Danone
FY2025 Quality Growth and Global B Corp Certification
Danone reports FY2025 sales of ~$30.8B (EUR27.283B), 4.5% like-for-like growth, recurring operating margin of 13.4%, and worldwide B Corp certification.
2025Hormel
CEO Transition
John Ghingo is elevated to president and Jeffrey M. Ettinger becomes interim CEO effective July 14, 2025.
2025Hormel
FY2025 Net Sales of $12.106B
Hormel reports FY2025 net sales of $12.106 billion and net earnings attributable to Hormel Foods of $478.197 million.
2026Danone
H1 2026 results and Huel acquisition
Danone reports H1 2026 sales of ~$15.7B (EUR13.936B) (+3.5% like-for-like) and a 13.3% recurring margin, and completes the acquisition of UK functional nutrition brand Huel in September 2026.
2026Hormel
Brazil Divestiture
Hormel agreed to sell its Brazil (Ceratti) business in Q3 fiscal 2026; the sale closed early in Q4.
2026Hormel
Brakebush Agreement
Hormel agreed to buy value-added chicken company Brakebush Brothers for about $1.055 billion.
Acquisitions
Danone
- Huel2026Undisclosed
- Kate Farms2025Undisclosed
- WhiteWave Foods Company2017$12.5B
- Royal Numico N.V.2007$12.3B
Hormel
- Brakebush Brothers2026$1.1B
- Planters2021$3.4B
- Applegate Farms2015$775M
- Skippy2013$700M
- Jennie-O Turkey Store2001Undisclosed
Questions about Danone vs Hormel
Who is the CEO of Danone S.A. and Hormel Foods Corporation?
Danone S.A. is led by Antoine de Saint-Affrique and Hormel Foods Corporation is led by Jeffrey M. Ettinger. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Danone S.A. founded vs Hormel Foods Corporation?
Hormel Foods Corporation was founded in 1891 — 28 years before Danone S.A., which was founded in 1919. Hormel Foods Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Danone S.A..
How many employees does Danone S.A. have compared to Hormel Foods Corporation?
Danone S.A. employs approximately 90,000 people, while Hormel Foods Corporation employs approximately 20,000. Danone S.A. has the larger workforce at 90,000 employees, compared to Hormel Foods Corporation's 20,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Danone S.A. and Hormel Foods Corporation headquartered?
Danone S.A. is headquartered in France and Hormel Foods Corporation is headquartered in United States. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Danone S.A. and Hormel Foods Corporation?
Danone S.A. was founded by Isaac Carasso. Hormel Foods Corporation was founded by George A. Hormel.
Which company has a longer operating history — Danone S.A. or Hormel Foods Corporation?
Hormel Foods Corporation has been operating for approximately 135 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Danone S.A. has been in operation for around 107 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Danone vs Hormel overview