TORONTO — Lactalis Canada Inc. — the dairy behemoth behind iconic brands such as Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond, Balderson, Astro and Lactantia — is adding Kraft Heinz’s grated cheese business to its portfolio and taking over Kraft Heinz’s Montreal plant. It’s all part of deal now concluded between the U.S. affiliate of France-based Lactalis Group and Kraft Heinz for the latter company’s natural, grated, cultured and specialty cheese businesses south of the border. Lactalis has also picked up Kraft Heinz’s entire international cheese business outside North America.
Under the terms of the agreement initially announced more than a year ago, the acquisition includes the Kraft Heinz grated cheese business in Canada, marking Lactalis Canada’s first-time entry into the “ambient” category. The Montreal plant comes along with it.
“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, subsidiary of the French parent company.
“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 follows Lactalis Canada’s respective 2019 and 2020 acquisitions of Kraft Heinz Canada’s natural cheese business and Agropur’s Ultima Foods Inc. brands.
