Nutricia
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Therapeutic food, Infant formula |
| Founded | 1896 |
| Founder | Jan van der Hagen, Martinus van der Hagen |
| Headquarters | Netherlands |
| Products | Infant milk formula, specialized medical nutrition |
| Parent | Danone |
Nutricia operates as a Danone brand focused on therapeutic food and infant formulas, including specialized medical nutrition tailored for infants with particular health requirements.
The original enterprise, N.V. Nutricia, was established in the Netherlands in 1896 by siblings Jan and Martinus van der Hagen. They initially produced infant milk formula and subsequently developed diabetic and iodine-fortified milk products.
History
In 1885, German academic Alexander Backhaus created a technique to eliminate the slow-digesting casein from cow’s milk, resulting in whey proteins that are more easily digestible and closer in composition to human milk. This breakthrough addressed infant feeding difficulties which contributed to high mortality rates across Europe.
Backhaus secured a patent for this process and showcased it in Berlin in 1896. There, Johannes van der Hagen, a Dutch public health official, introduced Backhaus to his brother Martinus, who owned a margarine and dairy manufacturing business. They obtained the rights to produce the infant formula.
By 1901, the "Nutricia" brand was launched and became known as “The Wet Nurse of The Netherlands.” In 1905, Nutricia broadened its range to include specialized dietary products such as low-sugar milk designed for diabetics and iodine-enriched milk aimed at treating goitre patients, marking the inception of clinical nutrition.
In 1924, production of powdered products was centralized at N.V. Cuijk's Dairy Factory, which supplied specialized infant nutrition catering to specific dietary needs for nearly one hundred years. Research laboratories were established in Zoetermeer in 1946.
The firm introduced ‘Voedingsnieuws’ (Nutrition News) in 1950 to provide international healthcare professionals with education on specialized nutrition. In 1986, Nutricia launched a consumer Care Line supported by dietitians.
The company was renamed "Koninklijke Numico N.V." (Royal Numico N.V.) in 1998. In 2007, Danone acquired the company for €12.3 billion after the board approved the bid. By October of that year, Danone controlled over 90% of shares, resulting in Numico’s removal from the Amsterdam Stock Exchange and exclusion from the AEX index.
Nutricia’s portfolio—including Milupa (acquired in 1995) and Cow & Gate (acquired in 1981)—was incorporated into Danone’s holdings under Danone Baby and Medical Nutrition B.V.