A love story that creates value - Danone announces a new partnership with the Breakfast Club of Canada: a program of shared experience

BOUCHERVILLE, QC, Feb. 18, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Danone is proud to announce the launch of a brand new partnership with the Breakfast Club of Canada: a tailor-made mentoring program. More than just traditional philanthropy, this program focuses on creating real value for both organizations. "Danone will develop leadership and employee expertise while ensuring team cohesion and engagement," says Pauline Varga, VP of Marketing at Danone. "And the Club will benefit from directly administrated expertise that responds to its specific organizational needs."

Like any business organization, the Club grapples with challenges involving the way the organization is run, namely: finding new ways to mobilize and retain its 3,500 volunteers, optimizing logistics in order to supply schools at reasonable costs, maintaining their brand image, finding bold new ways to raise funds via social media, and so on. In short, a non-profit organization functions much like a corporate enterprise.

Danone puts its expertise to work for the Club

"An organization like Danone has the resources and expertise to help the Club face many of its challenges and will use them to provide the Club with a structured, tailor-made program," adds Pauline Varga. In fact, the mentorship program was created in response to these very challenges. Some 10 employees from different Danone departments (logistics, nutrition, marketing, supply chain, etc.) volunteered to work with Club employees in order to help meet the organization's various challenges. The first completed task: Danone's Community Manager presented a workshop to the Club's communication team that focused on how to optimize their use of Facebook.

The Club and Danone: an enduring love story

Danone and the Breakfast Club of Canada have been working together for 18 years. Since the start of their collaboration, Danone has continuously found innovative new ways to help the Club. As well as this mentorship program, Danone is currently working on its other commitments to the Club, namely: donating millions of yogurt tubs, offering financial support and providing Danone volunteers to help serve breakfast at two schools on the South Shore.

About Danone

Danone Canada Inc. is a member of the Danone Group, a world leader in the agrifood industry. As a manufacturer and distributor of quality products combining superior taste with healthy ingredients, Danone is today Canada's largest producer of yogurt and other fresh dairy products. Danone's mission is to bring about health through food to as many people as possible.

As well as its commercial activities, Danone is convinced that a yogurt a day is important to maintaining good health for everyone. Danone is dedicated to its scientific approach and firmly believes in the benefits of its yogurt products in the context of a balanced diet and lifestyle.

For more information, please visit www.danone.ca or www.facebook.com/danonecanada.

SOURCE: Danone Canada

or to schedule an interview, contact:

Anne-Julie Maltais
External Communications Manager
Danone Inc.
450-655-7331 (2111)
[email protected]