Alpro is a European company based in Ghent,[4] Belgium, that markets organic and non-organic, non-genetically modified,[5][6] plant-based products, such as foods and drinks made from soy, almonds, hazelnuts, cashew, rice, oats or coconut.[7][8][9] Alpro employs over 1,200 people in Europe and has three production facilities in Belgium, France and the United Kingdom. Alpro markets its products in Europe and beyond with the majority of its business in Europe.[10][11]

Alpro
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryFood
FoundedMay 27, 1980[1]
FounderVandemoortele Groep
Headquarters,
Key people
Sue Garfitt (CEO)
Products
Number of employees
1,100 (2017)[2]
ParentDanone
Websitealpro.com
Footnotes / references
[3]

History

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Alpro was founded in 1980, as a subsidiary of the Vandemoortele Groep, which is based in Belgium. Alpro expanded across Europe and in 2000 built a soy milk plant in Burton Latimer, England.[12]

In 2008, Alpro launched the UK's first "reduced calorie soya alternative to yogurt" following the introduction of its Soy Light "reduced calorie soya milk" in 2006.[13]

Alpro's revenues are reported to have tripled during the period from 2000 to 2008. In 2009, beverages made up two-thirds of Alpro's revenues.[14]

In June 2009, Vandemoortele sold Alpro for an estimated US$455 million to Dean Foods,[15][16] which marketed the "Silk" soy milk brand in the US.[17]

In June 2013, WhiteWave, the Dean Foods subsidiary that managed Alpro, was spun-off as an independent company – listing on the New York Stock Exchange.[18] In July 2013, Dean Foods sold their remaining 19.9% stake in WhiteWave, thus ending their involvement with Alpro.[19]

In July 2016, it was announced that the French company Danone would purchase WhiteWave Foods for $10.4 billion.[20] The acquisition was completed in April 2017 and newly formed company is named "DanoneWave".[21]

In 2020, Alpro's No Sugars oatmilk won the Lausanne Index Prize – Supreme Award, a processed food prize.[22]

Alpro's general manager is Sue Garfitt.[23]

Products

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Soya yoghurt
Almond milk

Alpro distributes soya based vegan products under the brands Belsoy, Alpro Soya and Provamel. Products include soya milk,[24] soy yogurt, soya cream and soya based desserts, plant-based margarines and plant-based ice cream. All products are made from either non-GM soya, almonds, hazelnuts, cashew, rice, oats or coconut.

The Provamel brand is reserved exclusively for organic products (including many organic versions of Alpro Soya products), which are intended for sale only by independent health food retailers.[25]

Alpro soya milk scored best (out of 16 tested different plain soy milks), when rated by Germany's leading consumer safety group Stiftung Warentest.[26][27]

Other Alpro products include yogurt as well as "dessert and meat alternative products".[14]

Marketing activities

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To demonstrate Alpro's milk and yogurt alternatives, a year-long experiential marketing campaign gave consumers in the UK the opportunity to sample the breakfast menu products at various events and shopping centres around the country.[28][29] Alpro also encouraged visitors to have their photo taken at the internet pod on the stand and upload it to Facebook, thereby joining the Alpro Soya Facebook page.[30]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Alpro". Jaarrekening.be. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  2. ^ "CEO Alpro moet na 16 jaar vertrekken" [Alpro CEO must leave after 16 years]. De Tijd (in Dutch). 15 November 2017.
  3. ^ "Gegevens van de geregistreerde entiteit". KBO Public Search.
  4. ^ "40 years on, Alpro remains the plant-based force driving the Food Revolution". Alpro. 2020-09-17. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  5. ^ Evans, Paul (4 April 2007). "Heart of the Mata". The Guardian. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  6. ^ GM Food Survey 2004 Archived 2020-07-16 at the Wayback Machine June 2005 Food Safety
  7. ^ Marlow, Ben (2009-04-26). "Unilever's spree". The Times. Archived from the original on 2021-10-08.
  8. ^ "Activity rises as market develops a healthy appetite". Financial Times. March 26, 2007.
  9. ^ "Alpro expands UK soy milk range with chocolate flavor". The Organic & Non-GMO Report. August 2003. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  10. ^ Robinson-Jacobs, Karen (16 January 2010). "Dean Foods expands soy menu to Europe by acquiring Belgium's Alpro". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on 2010-01-16.
  11. ^ "Alpro Facts Sheet" (PDF). Corporate.alpro.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-01-14.
  12. ^ "About Alpro". Alpro.com. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  13. ^ "Alpro soya launches dairy-free yogurt alternative". Talking Retail. 15 January 2008. Archived from the original on 2015-11-25.
  14. ^ a b "UPDATE 2-Dean Foods to buy European soy products business". Reuters. 15 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2023-09-28.
  15. ^ Alpro website press communique
  16. ^ "Press | Alpro". Corporate.alpro.com. Archived from the original on 2012-05-11. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
  17. ^ "Dean Foods buys Alpro for about $455M". Dallas Business Journal. The Business Journals. 2009-07-06. Archived from the original on 2009-07-26. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  18. ^ "WhiteWave Foods". whitewave.com. Archived from the original on 2015-01-18. Retrieved 2014-12-01.
  19. ^ "Dean Foods - Press Release". Archived from the original on 2014-11-03. Retrieved 2014-12-01.
  20. ^ Kowitt, Beth (2016-07-13). "Danone CEO: Here's Why We're Buying WhiteWave". Fortune. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  21. ^ Cornall, Jim (2017-04-12). "Danone completes acquisition of WhiteWave to create DanoneWave". DairyReporter.
  22. ^ "2020 L.I.P. Supreme Award - Alpro".
  23. ^ "Sue Garfitt, CEO, Alpro". CBI. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  24. ^ Ursell, Amanda (2005-12-04). "Have your milk". The Times. Archived from the original on 2024-03-24.
  25. ^ "Provamel".
  26. ^ "Stiftung Warentest, Germany's leading consumer safety group". Retrieved 2013-07-26.
  27. ^ "Alpro Soya Calcium - Test" (in German). Testberichte.de. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
  28. ^ "Alpro goes big on samples: Plant Power pioneer hits the road with immersive experience". Fieldmarketing. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  29. ^ "Alpro Brand Sampling Experience in Network Rail train station". SpaceandPeople. 2019-03-08. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  30. ^ "Alpro Experiential Marketing Results". iD Experiential. Archived from the original on 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
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