LONDON • Danone will cut as many as 2,000 jobs, including one in four positions at its global headquarters, as the world's largest yoghurt maker attempts to revive profitability amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Danone has global headquarter sites across the world in locations such as Amsterdam and Singapore. About 400 to 500 jobs will be cut in France, a spokesman said.

The job cuts represent about 2 per cent of Danone's total staff.

The maker of Danone and Activia yoghurt and Evian water also said yesterday that it is considering moving global headquarter sites for its various businesses lines closer to the base of its French operations in Paris. Annual cost savings should reach €1 billion (S$1.59 billion) by 2023, also fuelled by more efficient purchasing.

Chief executive officer Emmanuel Faber is shifting the organisation to focus on geographical zones rather than product categories to become more agile amid the pandemic. Competitors like Nestle have long followed a regional strategy.

"This year has shown our businesses could be hurt significantly in their competitiveness by external shocks in countries where we operate," Mr Faber said on a call with reporters. "In this very volatile world for the next several years, we need to create a safety margin."

The company also plans to reduce the range of products it sells by 10 to 30 per cent in the next year, focusing on faster-growing and more profitable products.

Total one-time costs related to the changes will be about €1.4 billion for the 2021-2023 period.

Danone also said its adjusted operating margin should exceed 15 per cent in 2022 and reach mid-to high-teen levels later, which would be a record level.

Danone shares have slumped 29 per cent this year.

BLOOMBERG, REUTERS