Our extended family

Groupe Danone

We have a unique partnership with Groupe Danone, the French company known for its biscuits, Evian brand bottled water and Dannon yogurt.

Between 2001 and 2003, Groupe Danone bought about 85% of our company shares. Typically, when a big conglomerate buys a smaller organic or natural-food company, the smaller company undergoes management changes. But Groupe Danone has allowed us to continue managing our company autonomously, and we've remained true to our mission.

Gary Hirshberg, who co-founded our company in 1983, is still our chairman. We're still using the finest ingredients to make pure, delicious organic food. And our use of organic ingredients helps support hundreds of family farms and keep more than 200,000 farm acres free of toxic, persistent pesticides and other agricultural chemicals.

Brown Cow

In February 2003, we bought Brown Cow Farm, the West Coast producer of super-premium all-natural yogurts. With Brown Cow, we share similar philosophies about healthy, delicious yogurt and a healthy planet.

We both use only natural ingredients and milk from farmers who've pledged not to treat their cows with the artificial growth hormone rBST. We're also both committed to environmental health and jointly give 10% of our profits to efforts that help protect and restore the planet.