Over the past five years, Danone has invested more than 60 million euros in the development of its innovation center located at the production site in Aldaia (Aldaia) in Valencia. The facility manufactures over 250 types of products, with more than half exported to countries such as Portugal, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom. This plant produces the most technologically advanced and complex products for the European market, with annual investments in research and development reaching 120 million euros.
The Aldaia complex includes not only the main production facility but also a packaging plant and a logistics hub for product distribution. This site has become a key location for Danone in terms of introducing new technologies and product development, surpassing even the centers in Madrid and Barcelona in importance. In recent years, output has increased by 60%, boosted by the fact that Aldaia took on nearly all operations from the closed factory in Parets del Vallès near Barcelona, which Danone sold to the Bon Preu chain.
Danone has been operating in the Valencian Community for more than six decades, and the current complex was opened in 2002 and will soon celebrate its 25th anniversary. Today, about 300 people work at the site, while the total number of jobs linked to Danone’s activity in the region reaches 1,200. The complex has a significant economic impact, creating additional jobs and increasing income for local businesses: each euro invested generates more than two euros for the surrounding economy.
Special attention is given to environmental sustainability: the facility in Aldaia is considered a model of circular economy. Products are manufactured within a 25-kilometer radius, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by a third. More than half of the milk comes from local farms in Bétera, Xilxes, and Villena. Over 5,000 solar panels are installed on the premises, making production more energy efficient.
Regional authorities actively support Danone’s development by streamlining bureaucratic procedures and speeding up the approval process. This allows the company to implement investment projects and introduce innovations more rapidly. Government representatives note that such initiatives strengthen the industrial base not only of Valencia, but of all Spain, and also contribute to the development of the agri-food sector, which accounts for a significant share of the country’s economy.
Danone is also working to improve conditions at supplier farms and implement modern production methods, resulting in higher product quality. The company continues to expand its range and introduce new technologies, focusing on sustainable development and innovation.
