French food group Danone, which had purchased India-based Wockhardt’s nutrition business for $355m, intends to double the domestic baby and medical nutrition business over the next three years.
The company plans to expand its presence in emerging markets as growth at its traditional European markets is on the decline.
Last year, Danone generated sales of €19bn, of which more than 50% were in emerging markets.
Danone's baby nutrition brands include Aptamil, Bledina, Dumex, Gallia, Milupa and SGM.
Wockhardt's brands such as Farex, Dexolac, and Nusobee in baby nutrition and Protinex in medical nutrition compete with principal global rival Nestlé.
India's baby nutrition market is valued about $456m, in which Danone holds about 8% market share against Nestlé's 80%.
Danone India nutrition business unit Nutricia International managing director Laurent Marcel said that nutrition sector growth in India will overtake China's growth.
Nutricia expects to leverage the existing Danone and Wockhardt's brands in India once the company has developed its understanding of the local market.
The company has a manufacturing unit in Chandigarh, which came as part of the acquisition from Wockhardt.
