Number One Danny gave name to giant company

Number One Danny gave name to giant company

Sharon learned about the fascinating history of the giant French food conglomerate, Danone, when she visited the gourmet fair at Torre Pacheco over the weekend.

Passing by the Danone stand she was quickly attracted by the offer of sampling the company's new premium brand dessert yogurts and was soon tucking into a pot of strawberry flavour. That polished off, she then sampled spoonfuls of chocolate and melon as well.

One of the team at the stall, Jesus, explained that the new yogurts are being introduced to the restaurant market and the brand name is La Guinda. The individual pots are made of attractive plain earthenware. La Guinda will not be sold in supermarkets and shops but it is definitely something to look out for on menus from now on.

Although Danone is a French company, and the world's biggest seller of fresh dairy products, it´s origins are Spanish. Last year the company had global revenues of US$19 billion. The story started with Spain´s Jews being told in 1492 by the inquisitor-general, Torquemada, that they had three months either to convert to Christianity or leave the country. Many took the latter option, becoming known as Sephardic Jews, in the places that they subsequently settled in. One family, the Carassos, moved to Greece. However, at the end of the 19th century or early 20th century, they returned to Spain and settled in Barcelona.

During their time in Greece, they became familiar with yogurt. Isaac Carasso noted that many children in Barcelona suffered from stomach and intestinal problems and he decided in 1919 that yogurt would be an ideal cure and preventative. He began to produce yogurt and sold it, initially, through pharmacies. His son, Danny Carasso went into the family business and trained both in bacteriology and business in France where interest in yogurt quickly expanded. Again, the Jews were persecuted and in 1941 the Carassos had to flee to the Untied States. They established their brand there as well. After the end of the war the family returned to Europe and started to expand Danone.

The name Danone came from Isaac’s fond nickname for his son – Danny. This is Danon in the Catalan spoken in Barcelona. In the US the brand is known as Dannon. Jesus explained that the “one” in Danon probably came from the fact that Danny was the first son or “number one.”

Today Danone products can be found in virtually every country on the planet and the health-giving benefits of yogurt are universally appreciated. The wonderful properties of yogurt are illustrated by the fact that Daniel Carasso only died a couple of weeks ago – at the age of 103.

So, what is the expert view on the new La Guida premium line from Sharon? “It is absolutely delicious. It is not like the yogurt I know; it is more like thick double cream with fresh fruit in it. There´s no question of any sort of sour taste like you sometimes get with yogurt. I will certainly be looking out for it on menus for it from now on and asking waiters if they have it in stock. I only wish I could buy it in the shops and use it in my fruit smoothies at home, which would then be creamies.”

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©Phillip Bruce 2009