The food company Danone is moving ahead with the closure of its Bridgeton, New Jersey plant-based dairy facility, in a decision that reflects how the group is gradually reshaping its industrial network in the United States.
The site, which produces plant-based products under the Silk and So Delicious Dairy Free brands, will close on August 4. Around 114 employees will be affected by the shutdown.
Rather than ending production altogether, Danone will transfer manufacturing to other sites in its U.S. network, including facilities in Dallas, Texas; Mt. Crawford, Virginia; and Jacksonville, Florida. The company says the goal is to simplify operations and concentrate activity in plants that are better positioned for long-term demand.
This move comes as Danone continues to adjust its strategy across different product categories. While the group still generates solid overall sales — about $7.9 billion in its latest quarterly results — the plant-based and coffee creamer segment has been under pressure. CFO Juergen Esser has previously described its performance in this area as “unsatisfactory”.
At the same time, other parts of the business are performing more strongly. Yogurt products such as Activia and Oikos continue to see good demand, driven by consumers looking for higher-protein options. But this success has also created pressure on production capacity in the U.S., where Danone has sometimes struggled to keep up.
To respond to that imbalance, the company has already started expanding its Fort Worth, Texas facility and upgrading its Minster, Ohio plant, shifting investment toward categories that are proving more stable.
The plant-based dairy market itself is also losing momentum. Industry data shows alternative milk sales fell around 6% in 2025, continuing a longer decline since the category peaked in 2021.
In that context, the New Jersey closure is part of a broader adjustment: Danone is streamlining its footprint, reducing exposure to weaker segments, and reinforcing the parts of its business where demand remains stronger and more predictable.
