Lactalis Canada to open new plant-based production facility
Ontario's fluid milk market has been in decline
17 August 2022
2 minute read
Lactalis Canada, the Canadian dairy leader behind iconic brands like Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond, Balderson, Astro and Lactantia and a subsidiary of France-based Lactalis Group, announced that the company will be expanding its plant-based product offering with its existing Sudbury, Ontario plant converted into a modern, dedicated plant-based production facility over the coming months.
Complementing the company's wide range of popular, high-quality, nutritious dairy products, Lactalis Canada's expansion in this category will grow the company's plant-based offering which currently includes products such as Sensational Soy, Lactantia margarine and siggi's coconut-based yogourt alternative.
"While our core business is dairy, as an innovation leader and as demonstrated by our forthcoming expansion into plant-based, we are constantly following the consumer and continually seeking opportunities to innovate and respond to the market," said Mark Taylor, president & CEO, Lactalis Canada. "Our purpose is to enrich and nurture the lives of Canadians and this holds the same for our new offering which will provide consumers with complementary high-quality plant-based products that will benefit from our current capacity and capabilities as well as our rich and long-standing dairy expertise."
This announcement follows Lactalis Canada's decision to cease milk processing and packaging at its Sudbury, Ontario plant effective September 30, 2022. This is the result of long-term volume decline and increased costs in the fluid milk market in Ontario that have led to decreased profitability and economic sustainability of Lactalis Canada's fluid operations in Sudbury.
