Danone Chief Rules Out Acquiring a Big US Infant-Formula Maker

Danone SA’s chief executive officer ruled out buying any large US infant-formula producers, quashing speculation the French food company was looking to make an acquisition to gain a foothold in the American market.

Danone, whose brands include Activia yogurts and Evian mineral water, is one of the biggest infant-formula makers after Nestle SA of Switzerland. Neither have a major presence in the US, where Abbott Laboratories and Mead Johnson dominate.

Danone CEO Antoine de Saint-Affrique at the company’s AGM in Paris last month.

Photographer: Nathan Laine/Bloomberg

An April report in French publication Le Lettre said that Danone was interested in acquiring Mead Johnson, up for sale by owners Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc. However, ...