Building a foundation of trust | Danone

Since 2023, we’ve worked with Danone Netherlands to understand how trust is built and felt across complex public debates on health and sustainability. Through science‑based, playful 23plusone sessions with key voices, we moved beyond dashboards to hear the human stories behind reputation and translate insight into a shared corporate brand rooted in One Planet. One Health.

The challenge: bridging the gap between intent and perception

Trust is quiet; you feel it before you hear it. For a global company like Danone, positioned at the heart of critical debates on health and sustainability, the question is simple yet complex: how do you truly build trust? In intricate public debates, the gap between intention and perception can feel vast. The challenge was not just to act with purpose, but to be seen and felt as a reliable partner in the transitions ahead.

Our journey together: listening to what shapes reputation

Reputation is a living thing, formed person by person and conversation by conversation. Since 2023, we have worked with Danone Netherlands to map this landscape of trust. Using our science-based and playful approach, we look beyond dashboards to hear the human stories behind the opinions.

Through sessions guided by our 23plusone emotive methodology, we created space for dialogue with key opinion leaders—from policymakers to NGOs. "The collaboration with BR-ND People helped us transform the abstract term 'reputation' into concrete, human insights that truly guide our strategy," said one of the team members we worked with. By listening deeply, we understood how Danone is perceived within the Netherlands' most important societal transitions.

The transformation: from abstract metric to human connection

Deep listening provides more than just insights; it points toward a clear route. Together, we built a shared understanding that anchors an authentic corporate story. This resulted in a resonant employer brand, deeply rooted in the "One Planet. One Health" vision.

This foundation makes values and daily behavior clear, both internally and externally. Reputation thus shifts from a cold statistic to a warm network of real human relationships. It proves that when a brand acts from a place of genuine connection, trust is the natural outcome.

Is the story the world tells about you the same story you live on the inside? Let’s explore the human truths that can shape your next better, together.