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Russia’s H&N (Health & Nutrition), which incorporates the former assets of France’s Danone that exited Russia, increased its revenue 21.6% to over ₽140 billion (€1.54 billion) last year, while production grew 20.6% to nearly 950,000 tonnes.
Danone, which had operated successfully in Russia for over 30 years, completed its Russian business sale to Vamin R LLC of Tatarstan in May 2024 after European political pressure to exit the Russian market. The sale was valued at ₽17.7 billion (US$194 million). In September 2023, Vamin R LLC (Danone Russia) was rebranded as H&N (Health & Nutrition). The company produces its brands (Prostokvashino, Aktibio, Actimuno, Rastishka, Tyoma, Danissimo, Biobalance, and Aktual) across 12 factories in Russia.
In February 2025, Health & Nutrition received its first Halal certificate for products manufactured by the Yalutorovsk Dairy Plant. This document is mandatory for the company’s products to access export markets in the Persian Gulf countries. On 16 June, H&N made its first trial shipment of dairy products to the United Arab Emirates. The shipment included one pallet with a total weight of 700 kg: 624 units of cream and 156 units of ultra-pasteurised milk ‘Prostokvashino’.
The Yalutorovsk Dairy Plant, which specialises in the production of products under the Prostokvashino brand, received the Made in Russia certificate in early June this year, becoming a participant in a series of events aimed at promoting high-quality and competitive products manufactured in Russia to foreign markets. The Prostokvashino brand uses characters from the popular children’s story and the cartoon series based on it, Three from Prostokvashino, and is widely known in Russia.
This trial shipment volume totalled 700 kg of H&N’s Prostokvashino brand cream and UHT milk, with all the products manufactured at the Yalutorovsk Dairy Plant, which obtained halal certification in early 2024. It received “Made in Russia” certification in early June, which also provides some financial export incentives. Prostokvashino is commonly known as “Blue Cat” in Russia.
H&N stated that “The trial export shipment marked a significant milestone in developing our international business line, enabling the company to lay the foundation for the logistical, financial, and regulatory processes of exporting fresh dairy products to the UAE.”
H&N Chairman of the Board Ruslan Alisultanov was quoted as saying that exports to the countries of the Persian Gulf, particularly the UAE, represent a strategically important area of H&N’s business. “The regional market is developing dynamically, with growing demand for quality dairy products. For us, this represents not just new sales, but an opportunity to establish Russian brands in the Middle East’s premium segment. This successful launch proves Russian producers can not only meet the Gulf Cooperation Council’s high standards but also compete with global dairy market leaders.”
The company plans to ship its first batch of cottage cheese and sour cream to the UAE by the end of June, followed by yogurts in August-September. Alisultanov said that “projected export volume to the UAE through 2025 is 100-150 tonnes.” Product range and distribution will expand as sales develop.”
Danone is also present in the UAE, meaning that the company exited Russia, lost that market, and gained an export competitor in just the one deal.
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