Danone will close a plant-based beverage factory in the United States, where brands such as Silk and So Delicious Dairy Free are produced, as part of a reorganization of its industrial network.
The plant located in Bridgeton, New Jersey, is scheduled to close on August 4, affecting approximately 114 workers, according to Just Food. Production will be transferred to three other plants located in Mt. Crawford, Virginia; Dallas, Texas; and Jacksonville, Florida.
Danone stated that this change " is part of a broader effort to transform our network and allows for long-term investment in critical capabilities at our core base in the United States ."
The company does not disclose detailed financial data by segment in specific markets, but in the presentation of the 2025 results in February, CFO Juergen Esser stated that the plant-based products business in North America had performed " unsatisfactorily " in the last year.
Poor performance of plant-based beverages.
According to a report by the Good Food Institute, based on SPINS data, plant-based beverages remained the largest plant-based category in the United States in 2025, with sales of $2,7 billion and a 13% share of total milk sold at retail. Even so, sales in the category declined 2% year-over-year.
The same report indicates distinct performances between sub-segments: soy-based plant-based drinks grew by 4% and coconut-based plant-based drinks by 27%, while other categories such as yogurts, creams, and ready-to-drink beverages also registered growth.
The closure of the New Jersey factory contrasts sharply with Danone's recent investments in other markets. Last month, the company announced an investment of around €20 million to expand skyr production in France.
In November, it also revealed a significant investment in a unit in Boucherville, Canada, with the goal of increasing yogurt production by 40% and raw milk processing capacity by 20%. Back in August of last year, it had already announced plans to expand its yogurt factory in Minster, Ohio.
