Lactalis Canada acquires Kraft Heinz grated cheese business

Lactalis Canada Adds Kraft Heinz Grated Cheese Business to Portfolio (CNW Group/Lactalis Canada Inc.)

TORONTO — Lactalis Canada Inc. – a subsidiary of France-based Lactalis Group – announces that it will add Kraft Heinz’s Grated cheese business to its growing portfolio as part of the Group’s U.S. affiliate completing its acquisition of Kraft Heinz’s Natural, Grated, Cultured and Specialty cheese businesses in the United States and entire international cheese business outside North America.

Under the terms of the agreement announced on September 15, 2020, the acquisition includes the Kraft Heinz Grated cheese business in Canada, marking Lactalis Canada’s entry into the ambient category – a first for the dairy company. As part of this transaction, Lactalis Canada acquires production capability which remains at Kraft Heinz’s plant in Montreal, Quebec.

“The integration of Kraft Heinz’s Grated cheese business enhances Lactalis Canada’s capacity and capability to provide Canadian consumers with quality household brands and perfectly complements our growing portfolio of broad-based dairy products with the addition of parmesan,” said Mark Taylor, President & CEO, Lactalis Canada. “As the third largest branded retail manufacturer in Canada, this transaction reinforces our long-term investment in Canada and its food processing sector and marks Lactalis Canada’s foray into this part of the category.”

The addition of the Kraft Heinz Grated cheese business builds on Lactalis Canada’s growth strategy that includes the 2019 acquisition of Kraft Heinz Canada’s Natural cheese business which included the Cracker Barrel, P’tit Québec and aMOOza! brands as well as the March 2021 acquisition of Agropur’s Ultima Foods Inc. comprised of the IÖGO, IÖGO nanö and Olympic brands.