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The Canadian dairy sector is set for further consolidation as Lactalis Canada Inc. has reached a definitive agreement with Agropur Cooperative to acquire the assets of its fine cheese division. The transaction includes several established Quebec-made brands, two manufacturing facilities, and the cooperative’s fine cheese import operations.

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory clearance from the Competition Bureau Canada. The financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.

Portfolio Expansion

The addition of Agropur’s artisanal and fine cheese assets is designed to enhance Lactalis Canada’s existing dairy portfolio, which currently features brands such as Galbani, Président, Balderson, and Cracker Barrel.

The acquisition includes several prominent Canadian cheese brands:

🧀 OKA: A historic, heritage-rich Quebec cheese range with deep regional roots.

👨‍🍳 Monsieur Gustav: A premium selection of versatile speciality cheeses.

⭐ L’Extra: An award-winning brand featuring Quebec-made fine cheeses.

The transaction also includes the transfer of two major production facilities located in Oka and Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec. Through the integration of these operations, Lactalis Canada expects to add approximately 400 employees to its national workforce of 4,500.

Industrial Footprint

Since 2018, Lactalis Canada has significantly expanded its operational footprint through targeted investments and acquisitions. This strategy has established the company as one of the largest consumer packaged goods players in the Canadian food industry.

Prior major investments and structural developments include:

• The 1.62 billion CAD acquisition of Kraft Heinz’s natural cheese business in Canada, alongside the subsequent acquisitions of Ultima Foods Inc. and Marie Morin Canada.

• More than 900 million CAD in capital investments to upgrade capacity across 19 manufacturing sites, including the development of a 379,000-square-foot, zero-carbon-ready distribution centre in Oshawa, Ontario.

• The processing of approximately 2.2 billion litres of Canadian milk annually supports regional agricultural supply chains.

Emmanuel Besnier, Chairman of France-based parent company Lactalis Group, added that the transaction builds on established Quebec cheesemaking expertise and aligns with the global group's strategy to expand high-quality dairy operations in priority international markets.