Recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025), Montreal's Top Employers (2025) and Canada's Top Family-Friendly Employers (2025):
By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Nov 14, 2024)
Here are some of the reasons why Danone Canada was selected as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers (2025), Montreal's Top Employers (2025) and Canada's Top Family-Friendly Employers (2025):
- Danone Canada supports employees who want to start a family with maternity and parental leave top-up for all parents-to-be, to 100 per cent of salary for up to 26 weeks -- the organization also offers the option to phase-in their return to work, gradually increasing their hours
- Danone Canada encourages employees to express their recognition for their peers through a points-based platform -- employees can give and receive points for a job well done and points can be redeemed for gift cards, experiences, or to make a charitable donation to Breakfast Club of Canada
- Danone Canada encourages ongoing employee development with tuition subsidies for job-related courses (to $6,000 per year) and quarterly Development Days to provide formal opportunities for training and career development -- sessions include formal training, networking, keynote speakers, panel discussions, cooking classes, and yoga
An employee at Danone Canada
(Photo credit:
Flux Studio)
An employee at Danone Canada
(Photo credit:
Flux Studio)
An employee at Danone Canada
(Photo credit:
Flux Studio)
Employer Background
| Industry | Food manufacturing |
| Established in Canada | 1997 |
| Parent company | Danone |
| Parent company head office | Paris, France |
| Major Canadian locations | Vancouver BC, Calgary AB, Toronto ON, Montréal QC, Boucherville QC |
| Full-time employees in Canada | 553 |
| Part-time employees in Canada | 9 |
| Workforce engaged on a contract basis | 9.5% |
| Average age of employees in Canada | 42.6 years |
| Longest serving employee | 48.4 years |
Work Environment Rating: A
| Flexible work options | hybrid work option, flexible work hours, 35-hour work week (with full pay), shortened work week (fewer hours with less pay), compressed work week, reduced summer hours, work from anywhere policy (employees can work from anywhere for short periods of time) |
| Commuter amenities | walk to public transit, transit subsidies, online carpool sign-up, free parking, electric vehicle charging stations, secure/sheltered bicycle parking, nearby bike sharing station |
| Onsite workplace features | head office building is home to corporate offices and a manufacturing facility, office was recently renovated to create open, flexible and collaborative working spaces, workplace features telecommuter workstations, telecommuter workstations, sit-stand workstations, private phone booth, nap room, outdoor patio |
| Employee lounge amenities | comfortable seating, television, iPads available for employee use |
| Snacks available | Danone yogurt and plant-based products |
| Onsite cafeteria | subsidized meals |
| Onsite fitness facility | for employees only, free membership, treadmills, stationary bikes, stairmasters, instructor-led classes (high-intensity interval training, outdoor workouts offered during the summer), elliptical trainers, rowing machines, weights, shower facilities |
Work Atmosphere & Communications Rating: B
| Employee social committee name | Social Committee (est. 1997) |
| Past social events | holiday parties, Family Day event at the Boucherville plant, offsite events held in New York, Banff, Halifax and Prince Edward County in Ontario, 9th annual Danone Day to reflect on the company's success over the past year |
| Cultural aspects | business-casual dress daily, dress-for-your-day policy, casual dress (e.g. jeans) daily, music while working, concierge services available |
| Employee communications | intranet site, company newsletter, traditional/email suggestion box, internal social media |
| Other in-house communications | town hall |
Financial Benefits & Compensation Rating: B
| Financial benefits note | Danone Canada has multiple employee groups, financial benefits may vary by position |
| Outside salary surveys | participates in outside salary surveys every 12 months |
| Employee salary reviews | individual salaries are reviewed every 12 months |
| Long-term savings | matching RSP, non-matching RSP |
| Long-term planning | retirement planning assistance, phased-in retirement work options |
| Share purchase plan | available to all employees |
| Year-end bonuses | available to all employees |
| Referral bonuses (max) | new employee referral bonuses (up to $5,000) for some positions |
| Signing bonuses | available for some positions |
| Additional financial benefits | corporate discount program (e.g. retail, services, travel, etc.), discounted home insurance, discounted auto insurance |
Health & Family-Friendly Benefits Rating: B
| Health plan note | Danone Canada has multiple employee groups, health plans may vary by position |
| Health plan premium | as part of the health plan, the employer pays up to 100% of the premiums |
| Flexible coverage | health plan is flexible with adjustable premiums and coverage levels |
| Minimum hours worked for coverage | 20 hours per week |
| Waiting period | there is no waiting period for coverage |
| Family coverage option | yes |
| Dental coverage | routine, restorative |
| Eyecare | $150 every 2 years |
| Paid sick days | employees receive 5 days off each year |
| Health plan includes | traditional coverage (e.g. prescription drugs), employee assistance (EAP) plan, semi-private hospital room, physiotherapy, medical travel insurance, medical equipment and supplies, massage therapy, nutrition planning, podiatrist, osteopathy, chiropractor, alternative coverage (e.g. acupuncture, naturopathy), virtual healthcare services |
| Mental health practitioner benefit | up to $1,000 each year |
| Health spending account | up to $750 each year |
| Wellness spending account | up to $750 each year |
| Additional health and wellness initiatives | dedicated wellness page with tips on healthy habits (nutrition, fitness, mental health), a dedicated employee who focuses on facilities management and employee well-being initiatives |
| Family-friendly benefits note | Danone Canada has multiple employee groups, family-friendly policies may vary by position |
| Maternity top-up (mothers) | up to 100% of salary for 18 weeks |
| Parental top-up (mothers) | up to 100% of salary for 8 weeks |
| Parental top-up (fathers) | up to 100% of salary for 26 weeks |
| Adoption top-up | up to 100% of salary for 26 weeks |
| Additional family-friendly benefits | extended parental leave to unpaid leave, phased-in return to work for new parents |
Vacation & Personal Time-Off Rating: B+
| Vacation note | Danone Canada has multiple employee groups, vacation policies may vary by position |
| Unlimited vacation allowance | offers a no-limit vacation policy |
| Unpaid leave maximum | 12 months |
Employee Engagement & Performance Rating: A
| Employee performance reviews | employees receive individual performance reviews every 3 months |
| Managers receive performance review training | yes |
| 360° feedback option | as part of the review process, performance feedback is also solicited from co-workers and other managers familiar with each employee's work |
| Confidential employee feedback | employees can also provide confidential feedback on their manager's performance |
| Exit interview | exit interview option is available for departing employees |
| Performance recognition | online recognition platform, individual performance bonuses, on-the-spot rewards, long-service awards, Hall of Fame awards to recognize leadership behaviours and exceptional work (honourees receive an all-expenses paid trip with their companion of choice), peer-to-peer recognition platform with redeemable points (points can be exchanged for gift cards, experiences, or to make a charitable donation to Breakfast Club of Canada) |
| In-house survey period | in-house surveys are conducted every 12 months |
| Outside survey period | outside consultant surveys are held every 12 months |
Training & Skills Development Rating: B+
| Career planning | in-house career planning services, online employee skills inventory |
| In-house training initiatives | apprenticeship/skilled trades programs, mentoring, in-house training, online training, leadership development programs, paid internships, subsidies for professional accreditation |
| Related tuition subsidies | employer covers up to 100% of tuition per year |
| Annual tuition maximum | employer pays up to $6,000 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year |
| Unique training & development programs | quarterly Development Days dedicated to personal and professional development (activities include formal training, networking, keynote speakers, and panel discussions), workshops and conferences with external speakers |
Community Involvement Rating: B+
| Scope of charitable involvement | national |
| Total number of charities supported last year | approximately 8 charitable and community organizations were supported last year |
| Some of the community organizations supported | École Lionel Groulx via Breakfast Club of Canada in Longueil, Market Lane Public School, La Tablée des chefs, Second Harvest, Mission Nouvelle Génération, The Grocery Foundation, Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund |
| Charitable giving | matches employee donations |
| Community highlight | Danone Canada maintains a charitable focus on initiatives related to food insecurity and inclusion -- The company is a founding partner of Breakfast Club of Canada and has worked alongside the organization for 28 years, helping children develop their potential by giving them regular access to a nutritious breakfast in a comfortable environment |
Recognized as one of Canada's Greenest Employers (2025):
By Richard Yerema and Chantel Watkins, and Sonja Verpoort, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Apr 21, 2025)
Here are some of the reasons why Danone Canada was selected as one of Canada's Greenest Employers (2025):
- Danone Canada recently launched a climate transition plan, outlining an ambitious company-wide strategy to achieve net-zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2050 (with incremental emissions reductions along the way)
- Danone Canada is actively working to improve packaging on a wide range of its food products, reducing waste and working toward a circular and low-carbon packaging system -- efforts over the past year have included developing new cups and reducing 'overwrap' on some yogurt products
- Danone Canada also maintains enhanced in-house recycling programs, capturing batteries, cell phones, light bulbs, hazardous waste, and ink cartridges as part of the organization's goal of achieving zero-waste to landfill
Danone Canada employees connect in the office
(Photo credit:
Flux Studio)
Danone Canada employees connect in the office
(Photo credit:
Flux Studio)
Danone Canada employees connect in the office
(Photo credit:
Flux Studio)
Highlights
| Industry | Food manufacturing |
| Major Canadian locations | Vancouver BC, Calgary AB, Toronto ON, Montréal QC, Boucherville QC |
| Full-time employees in Canada | 553 |
| Part-time employees in Canada | 9 |
| Employee green team | sustainability team and steering committee |
| Senior executive who oversees initiatives | sustainability director |
| Publishes sustainability report | yes |
| Green highlights | launched a standalone climate transition plan (company-wide roadmap to reduce its carbon footprint by 2030 in line with the Paris Agreement's 1.5C goal) |
| Building footprint includes | electric vehicle charging stations, lighting occupancy sensors, heat recovery system |
| Extended recycling | batteries, cellular phones, lights, ink cartridges, Boucherville plant achieved gold-level zero Waste to Landfill certification |
| Commuter amenities | walk to public transit, secure/sheltered bicycle parking, online carpool sign-up, transit subsidies |
| Community partnerships | B Corp certification |
The Career Directory
Danone Canada has been selected for The Career Directory, our guide to entry-level recruitment for recent college and university graduates.
Danone Canada employees in the communal eating area
Danone Canada employees in the communal eating area
Danone Canada employees in the communal eating area
Highlights for New Grads
| Industry | Food manufacturing |
| Full-time employees in Canada | 501 to 750 |
| Parent company | Danone |
| Parent company head office | Paris, France |
| Major Canadian locations | Vancouver BC, Calgary AB, Toronto ON, Montréal QC, Boucherville QC |
| Student opportunities | paid internships, summer jobs, co-op opportunities |
| Training | subsidies for professional accreditation, orientation program, online training, in-house training, mentoring, in-house career planning services, leadership training |
| Annual tuition maximum | employer pays up to $6,000 in tuition subsidies for job-related courses per year |
| Typical new grad positions | Assistant Brand Manager, Assistant Digital Manager, Retail Development Specialist, Sales Analyst, HR Business Partner Associate, Communication Associate, Finance Junior Manager, Customer Solution Analyst |
| Starting salary | $50K to $60K |
| Work benefits | health benefits for new employees, flexible work hours, telecommuting, transit subsidies, employees receive paid time off to volunteer |
| Unlimited vacation allowance | offers a no-limit vacation policy |
Academic fields recruited
-
Bachelor of Arts
- Human Resources
- Industrial Relations
- Psychology
- Public Relations / Communications
-
Bachelor of Commerce / Business Administration
- Accounting
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Information Systems
- Marketing
-
Bachelor of Engineering
- Food Processing
- Industrial Design
- Industrial Engineering
- Transportation
-
Bachelor of Laws
- Corporate
-
Bachelor of Science
- Health Sciences
-
Community College Diploma
- Communications / Public Relations
- Human Resources
- Laboratory Technician
- Marketing / Sales
- Office Administration
- Purchasing / Logistics
-
Master of Arts
- Human Resources
- Industrial Relations
-
Master of Business Administration
- Accounting
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Information Systems
- Marketing
-
Master of Engineering
- Food Processing
- Industrial Design
- Industrial Engineering
- Production / Manufacturing
- Transportation
-
Master of Science
- Biology
-
Professional Accreditation
- Accounting (CA)
- Accounting (CGA)
- Accounting (CMA)
- Human Resources (CHRP, CEBS)
- Logistics (CITT, CIFFA)
- Other Business / Technical/ Industry Certifications
- Professional Engineer
- Purchasing Management (PMAC, CPP)
- Quality Assurance (TQM)
Recruits at these schools
- Concordia University
- École de technologie supérieure
- HEC Montréal
- McGill University
- Polytechnique Montréal
- Toronto Metropolitan University
- Université de Montréal
- Université de Sherbrooke
- Université Laval
- University of Guelph
- University of Toronto
- York University