For a multinational company like Danone , it is essential for its business growth in line with its ‘ Renew Danone ’ strategy and its wider sustainability agenda .

Chief Procurement Officer Jean-Yves Krummenacher says the key to its approach is simplicity . First , he says , the company secures the “ basics of safety , quality and service levels ”. “ This allows us to nurture strong and transparent relationships to find the best solutions for efficiency , technology and sustainability ,” he adds .

Benefits to customers Krummenacher continues : “ It all starts with our mission : bringing health , through foods to as many people as possible . The link to the end consumer is critical in everything we do .

“ We cannot achieve our mission alone ; we need our suppliers and partners . We have a track record of working in a collaborative way in everything from research and innovation to sourcing and sustainability . This approach remains at the core of our strategy for growth .”

The supplier relationships it has fostered allows Danone to achieve deeper collaboration in areas such as science , technology and sustainability . In science , for example , Danone has major assets around fermentation , and it combines these with the tech capabilities of its suppliers to create a competitive advantage .

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