Danone Specialized Nutrition Malaysia is redefining what it means to be an employer of choice, combining award-winning culture with benefits that go above and beyond statutory requirements. Fresh off its second consecutive win as one of HR Asia’s Best Companies to Work For in Asia 2025, Danone also swept four major subcategory honors for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Sustainable Workplace, Tech Empowerment, and Most Caring Company.
A Legacy of Care and Purpose
Operating in Malaysia for over 65 years since 1958, Danone continues to advance its mission of “Bringing Health Through Food to as Many People as Possible.” Guided by this purpose for its products like Dumex Dugro and Aptamil Kid, the company has also nurtured a workplace built on empathy, transparency, and progress.
“Being recognized again by HR Asia is an incredible honor that reflects the passion and resilience of our people,” said Koh Kok Meng, Country Manager, Danone Specialized Nutrition Malaysia & Singapore. “At Danone, we believe that thriving people and communities are what ignite sustainable business growth. These awards reaffirm our dedication to creating a workplace where everyone can belong, grow, and contribute meaningfully and we believe we have been successful in doing that by meeting the evolving needs of the talent market. This can be seen in the talent strategies, policies and benefits that we have while we build a purpose-driven culture and company,” he added.
Embedding Inclusion Every Day
Danone achieved B Corp certification in 2023, becoming the first food company in Malaysia to meet this global standard. The certification measures social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency – a reflection of the company’s commitment to balancing profit with purpose as it creates impact beyond the business.
In 2025, Danone strengthened this commitment by embedding inclusion and human rights into everyday practices. All Malaysia employees completed mandatory human rights e-learning covering responsible sourcing, anti-harassment policies, and grievance mechanisms across the value chain. HR teams and leaders were also equipped with specialized training on disability inclusion and neurodiversity. The company proudly welcomed a neurodiverse talent into its workforce, thus, turning awareness into action and inclusion into opportunity.
Futureproofing Through Digital Upskilling
Danone partnered with Microsoft to launch an AI for All program and Copilot capabilities program in a bid to leverage AI for productivity and innovation. The company runs cybersecurity awareness campaigns and practical competitions to prepare employees for digital-first work.
“We’re aligning our digital capability building with Malaysia’s push toward a digital economy and expectations of a Gen Z workforce,” said Marlini Abdul Rashid, HR Director at Danone Specialized Nutrition Malaysia & Singapore. “By equipping our people with AI and digital skills, and emphasizing their ethical use, we’re meeting the demand for tech-driven careers and ensuring our teams thrive in a future-ready workplace while contributing to national workforce transformation.”
Safety, Wellbeing & Market-Leading Benefits
Danone has recorded 2,800 consecutive days of zero accidents with safety and wellbeing at the heart of employee experience. Its WISE² program helps cultivate a proactive health and safety culture.
On the wellness front, its Be Well program ensures employees thrive physically, mentally and nutritionally through initiatives like quarterly massage, sports competitions, health screenings, 24/7 mental health support, stress management workshops and nutrition education. Employees work two days from anywhere and three days in the office.
Other benefits include enhanced annual medical coverage for employees and families. The company also offers 134 consecutive calendar days of maternity leave; 36 days more than the statutory requirement as well as 10 days of paternity leave, and caregiver leave for family medical needs.
“We offer comprehensive training, upskilling, and wellbeing programs, supported by market-leading benefits such as a 19% employer contribution to EPF which is one of the highest in Malaysia. These commitments reflect our strong people-centric strategy and culture, built on the belief that when employees feel supported, they perform at their best. This has also resulted in Danone maintaining an impressive single-digit attrition rate, placing the company well ahead of FMCG industry benchmarks,” added Marlini.
Impact Beyond Business
Danone Day, an annual celebration, is a powerful expression of the company’s purpose. Employees volunteered across 16 routes and 267 locations, focusing on Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) awareness, reinforcing its commitment to community health and nutrition. The company runs programs like Iron Up through trusted brand Dumex Dugro which seeks to address iron deficiency anaemia in the country through free non-invasive screening and products fortified to increase iron absorption by 3x. In partnership with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, Dumex Dugro has screened some 70,000 Malaysian children for anaemia.
Danone continues to champion health, inclusion, and innovation — creating impact for employees, communities, and Malaysia’s future workforce.
