Danone reported a solid performance in its first-half results, with sales increasing by 4.2 per cent on a like-for-like basis to £6.2bn.

This was driven by a contribution of 1.9 per cent from volume and a 2.3 per cent increase from price.

The brand’s first-half sales went up by 3.5 per cent on a like-for-like basis to £11.9bn, with volume increasing by 1.7 per cent.

Danone reported a recurring operating income of £1.5bn, marking an increase of 2.3 per cent compared to last year.

Sales went up by 1.4 per cent on a reported basis, which includes a positive scope effect of 0.7 per cent, which reflects the consolidation of Kate Farms and the joint venture with Saputo Dairy Australia.

According to the business, the successful performance was due to strong productivity gains, which include overheads.

Antoine de Saint-Affrique, CEO of Danone said: “We are closing a solid first half, demonstrating once again the relevance of our health-focused portfolio and the strength of our multi-engine growth model.

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“Demand for our winning platforms remained strong, including high-protein products and Medical Nutrition across all regions, and Skyr, Kefir and plant-based in Europe.

“At the same time, we made step-by-step progress in North America EDP and saw improving trends in Infant Milk Formula in EMEA. During the semester, we continued to enhance our portfolio in attractive health-focused categories through our disciplined approach to M&A, including the signing of agreements to acquire Huel and, more recently, Made Group in APAC, both with strong potential across key geographies.”

According to the business, the strong results were driven by the impact of its health-focused portfolio.

These results come after the manufacturer recently filed a lawsuit against Chobani, accusing the US yoghurt brand of misleading shoppers with claims around one of its high-protein ranges.

The lawsuit is part of an ongoing legal dispute between Danone and Chobani since 2016, which shows the underlying rivalry between two major brands within the Greek-style yoghurt category.