Who Owns Huel?
Huel is owned by Danone S.A., the French multinational food company listed on Euronext Paris under the ticker BN. Danone completed its acquisition of Huel on September 4, 2026, for close to 1 billion euros, about $1.15 billion. Huel was founded in 2014 by Julian Hearn in England and is headquartered in Tring, Hertfordshire.
Parent Company
Acquired
2026
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Huel Timeline
Who Owns Huel?
- Parent Company: Danone S.A.
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Acquisition Year: 2026
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: Euronext Paris: BN
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Huel | Danone S.A. | Wholly owned |
Where to Buy
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Huel on AmazonHistory of Huel
- Founded: 2014
- Founders: Julian Hearn, James Collier
- Acquired by Danone S.A.: 2026
Julian Hearn founded Huel in 2014 in Aylesbury, England. The name blends "human" and "fuel." Registered nutritionist James Collier, founder of the bodybuilding site MuscleTalk, formulated the original recipe to deliver every nutrient at recommended daily amounts under European Food Safety Authority guidelines. The first product, a vanilla powdered meal mixed with water, went on sale in June 2015.
The pitch was efficiency: a complete meal costing a few pounds, vegan, shelf-stable, and ready in a minute. Early customers came from fitness communities and busy professionals. Revenue grew fast enough that by 2017 the company brought in James McMaster as CEO to professionalize operations, while Hearn moved into a founder role.
Highland Europe invested in 2018, giving Huel capital to expand product lines and push into the United States. The range widened from the original powder into Ready-to-drink bottled shakes, Hot and Savoury meals, snack bars, Complete Protein powder, and Daily Greens. A December 2022 funding round drew celebrity investors including Idris Elba, Jonathan Ross, and Dragons' Den personality Steven Bartlett, alongside Morgan Stanley's 1GT fund.
Revenue reached 184.5 million pounds in the year to July 2023, up 28 percent, then passed 200 million pounds in FY2024 as profit roughly tripled. Huel earned B Corp certification in 2023 and joined Tony's Open Chain for ethical cocoa sourcing. In 2024 the company opened its first owned factory in Milton Keynes, bringing a significant share of UK and EU powder production in-house. Retail distribution passed 25,000 stores globally, covering about 70 percent of UK supermarkets, and the company crossed 500 million lifetime meals sold.
For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2025, Huel reported revenue of 254 million pounds, up 19 percent, and pre-tax profit of 19.4 million pounds, up 40 percent. The UK still produced about half of sales, with the US contributing roughly 30 percent. Danone's acquisition completed in September 2026 and moved Huel into the French group's functional nutrition portfolio.
About Danone S.A.
What does Danone own?
Danone owns approximately 20 major brands across three segments. In Essential Dairy and Plant-Based, it owns Activia, Actimel, Oikos, Danone, Alpro, Silk, and STōK. In Waters, it owns evian, Volvic, Aqua, and Mizone. In Specialized Nutrition, it owns Aptamil, Nutrilon, Nutricia, Nutrison, Neocate, and Kate Farms. The company sold or deconsolidated Horizon Organic in 2024.
Is Danone publicly traded?
Yes. Danone S.A. is publicly traded on Euronext Paris under the ticker BN. The company is a component of the CAC 40 index. An ADR program trades on the OTCQX platform under the symbol DANOY for U.S. investors. There is no parent company or controlling shareholder.
Who founded Danone?
Danone was founded in 1919 by Isaac Carasso in Barcelona, Spain. Carasso named the company after his son Daniel, whose nickname was "Danon." The company began by producing yogurt using cultures from the Pasteur Institute, positioning yogurt as a health food. Daniel Carasso expanded the business to France in 1929.
Where is Danone headquartered?
Danone is headquartered in Paris, Ile-de-France, France. The company's corporate offices, including executive leadership and global functions, are based in Paris, with major operational centers and manufacturing facilities across Europe, North America, Asia, and Latin America.
How many brands does Danone own?
Danone owns approximately 20 major brands across its three segments. The most prominent are Activia, Actimel, Oikos, Alpro, Silk, evian, Volvic, Aqua, Aptamil, Nutricia, and Kate Farms. The company's portfolio is focused on health-focused food and beverage rather than indulgence products.
Who owns Danone?
Danone is an independent publicly traded corporation with no parent company. The company is owned by institutional investors, mutual funds, pension funds, and individual shareholders who hold its Euronext Paris-listed shares. Major institutional holders include BlackRock, Vanguard Group, and European pension funds. There is no founder control or dual-class share structure.
What were Danone's recent financial results?
For FY2025, Danone reported sales of €27.3 billion, up 4.5% like-for-like, with recurring EPS of €3.80, up 4.6%, and recurring operating margin of 13.4%, up 44 basis points. In H1 2026, sales were €13.9 billion, up 3.5% like-for-like, with recurring EPS of €1.92. The company confirmed 2026 guidance of 3% to 5% like-for-like sales growth.
Is Danone B Corp certified?
Yes. Danone achieved worldwide B Corp certification in 2025, independently verified by B Lab. This was the culmination of a decade-long process and makes Danone one of the largest food and beverage companies to hold this certification. The company is also recognized on the CDP Triple A List for climate, water, and forest performance.
- Founded: 1919
- Headquarters: Paris, Ile-de-France, France
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: Euronext Paris: BN
- Revenue: €27.3 billion (FY2025); €13.9 billion (H1 2026)
- Employees: Over 90,000
Where Is Huel Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Tring, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
- Manufacturing / Operations: United Kingdom, United States
Huel Categories & Tags
Huel Sustainability & Ethics
Huel has been a Certified B Corporation since 2023, meeting B Lab's verified social and environmental standards. All products are plant-based, which keeps the carbon footprint per meal well below animal-protein equivalents.
The company joined Tony's Open Chain, an industry initiative for traceable, slave-free cocoa sourcing used for its chocolate-flavored products. Huel also publishes a sustainability report covering packaging reduction and food waste, and its powdered format inherently reduces food waste because of long shelf life and precise portioning.
Under Danone, Huel joins a parent that achieved worldwide B Corp certification in 2025, so the certification posture is consistent up the ownership chain.
Awards & Recognition
- B Corp Certification (2023): Verified social and environmental performance under B Lab standards
- The Sunday Times Fast Track 100: Repeatedly listed among Britain's fastest-growing private companies during its independent years
- 500 million meals milestone (2025): Lifetime servings milestone announced alongside its tenth year of trading
Huel Recalls & Controversies
Huel has faced criticism, rather than formal regulatory action, on two recurring fronts. Nutritionists have periodically questioned whether heavily fortified powdered foods are a healthy long-term substitute for whole-food diets, a debate Huel answers by positioning its products as convenient meals rather than total dietary replacement.
The brand has also drawn complaints about the taste and texture of early formulations of its powder and Hot and Savoury lines, and UK Advertising Standards Authority rulings in prior years touched on how marketing described the products. No major product safety recalls or food safety enforcement actions are on record for the brand.
Brands Owned by Danone S.A.
Huel Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Danone's global distribution can scale Huel beyond the expensive direct-to-consumer model
- +Shared R&D and regulatory resources of a 27 billion euro food group
- +B Corp certification held by both brand and parent keeps sustainability commitments consistent
- +Founder's exit cleaned up the cap table and removed succession uncertainty
- +Milton Keynes factory gives in-house control of powder production
Considerations
- -Acquisition price above 20 times EBITDA sets a demanding return bar for Danone
- -Brand identity built on startup independence could dilute under a multinational
- -Direct-to-consumer economics remain thin-margin even at scale
- -Nutritionally complete meals still face skepticism from parts of the nutrition establishment
- -Integration into Danone's European division may slow product iteration speed
Frequently Asked Questions About Huel
Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to Huel
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beyond Meat Inc | USA | 2009 | Premium | Global | All-ages |
Learn More About Competitors
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Huel competes with 1 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Independent Alternatives to Huel
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Danone S.A., giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Food BeverageHOLY
Owned by HOLY Energy GmbH
Berlin-based powdered soft drink brand selling sugar-free energy, hydration, and iced tea mixes direct to consumers across Europe.
energy-drinkshydrationsugar-free
Privately Owned
HOLY is privately owned, unlike Huel which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageLavazza
Owned by Lavazza Group
Italian premium coffee brand and one of the world's largest coffee roasters, family-owned since 1895, selling products in over 140 countries with annual revenue of EUR 3.9 billion in 2025.
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Lavazza is privately owned, unlike Huel which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageOlipop
Owned by OLIPOP Inc.
Functional prebiotic soda brand with high fiber and low sugar, sold in nearly 50,000 US retail locations. Privately held, valued at $1.85 billion.
functional-beverageprebiotic-sodagut-health
Privately Owned
Olipop is privately owned, unlike Huel which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageChobani
Owned by Chobani, LLC
American food and beverage company founded in 2007 by Hamdi Ulukaya, specializing in Greek yogurt, coffee, creamers, and plant-based foods. Privately held with 2025 revenue of $3.8 billion.
greek-yogurtdairycoffee
Privately Owned
Chobani is privately owned, unlike Huel which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageAG1
Owned by AG1
Daily green powder supplement formerly known as Athletic Greens, sold by subscription by AG1, a private wellness company valued above $1 billion.
supplementsgreens-powderdaily-health
Privately Owned
AG1 is privately owned, unlike Huel which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Food BeverageAu Vodka
Owned by Sazerac Company, Inc.
UK-based premium vodka and ready-to-drink cocktail brand known for gold bottles, founded in 2015 in Swansea, Wales. Acquired by Sazerac in August 2026 for a reported valuation of approximately £500 million.
vodkaspiritsrtd
Privately Owned
Au Vodka is privately owned, unlike Huel which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Danone S.A. Stock Information
Jobs at Danone S.A.
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