Lactalis is a multi-national dairy products corporation, owned by the Besnier family and based in Laval, Mayenne

Laval, Mayenne

Laval is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.It lies on the threshold of Brittany and on the border between Normandy and Anjou. Its citizens are called Lavallois.-Geography:...

, France. It is the third largest dairy products group in the world, and is the second largest food products group in France, behind Danone. It owns brands such as Sorrento

Sorrento Lactalis

Sorrento Lactalis is one of the largest cheese companies in America, owned by the world's second largest dairy products company Lactalis, based in France.-History:...

, Société, Bridel, Président

Président (cheese)

Président is a French cheese brand owned by the Laval based Lactalis company. The brand was created in 1968 by André Besnier. It is used for butter and for a range of industrially produced versions of traditional cheeses.- History :...

, Rachel's Organic

Rachel's Organic

Rachel's is an organic dairy products company based in Aberystwyth, Wales. Founded by local farmers but now a subsidiary of French company Lactalis, it was United Kingdom's first certified organic dairy.-Background:...

 and Valmont

History

André Besnier started a small cheese-making company in 1933 and launched its Président brand of Camembert

Camembert

Camembert is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.It is most famous as the place where camembert cheese originated.Camembert has been called "The largest small village in France." This is because the area of the commune itself is out of proportion to the center of the village...

 in 1968. In 1990 it acquired Group Bridel (2,300 employees, 10 factories, 4th largest French dairy group), with presence in 60 countries. In 1992 it acquired United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 cheese company Sorento

Sorrento Lactalis

Sorrento Lactalis is one of the largest cheese companies in America, owned by the world's second largest dairy products company Lactalis, based in France.-History:...

. In 1999 la société Besnier became le groupe Lactalis, owned by Belgium

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

-based holding company BSA International SA. In 2006 they bought Italian

Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...

 group Galbani, and in 2008 bought Swiss

Switzerland

Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

-based cheese maker Baer.

In 2007, the French INAO

Institut National des Appellations d'Origine

The Institut National des Appellations d'Origine is the French organization charged with regulating French agricultural products with Protected Designations of Origin . Controlled by the French government, it forms part of the Ministry of Agriculture...

 (Institut National des Appellations d'Origine) which administers AOC

Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée

Appellation d’origine contrôlée , which translates as "controlled designation of origin", is the French certification granted to certain French geographical indications for wines, cheeses, butters, and other agricultural products, all under the auspices of the government bureau Institut National...

 (L'appellation d'origine contrôlée) designations for French food products, refused to permit Lactalis and the dairy cooperative, Isigny-Sainte-Mère, to sell pasteurized Camembert as "true Camembert". These two companies, as of 2007, represented between 80 and 90 percent of Normandy

Normandy

Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...

camembert sales.

Operations

Lactalis in 2008 had global revenues of 9.35 billion euros, 5.6 billion euros (60%) outside France. Lactalis employs 38,000 persons. According to the company's website, Lactalis has 16,500 employees outside France, at 44 production sites. Lactalis USA is located in New York City.

Brands

The group operates in eight divisions:

• Lactalis cheeses with President - Rouy - Lepetit - Bridélight - Galbani - Rondelé - Munster's Little Friends
• Lactalis Butter & Creams with President - Bridélice - Bridélight - Primrose
• Lactel with Awakening - Day after day - Morning Light
• Lactalis AOC with Pochat - Istara - Beulet - Salakis - Lanquetot - Roquefort Société - Golden Ball - Lou Pérac - The Ruby - Raguin - The Stone Bridge
• Lactalis consumption AFH with President - Society - Bridel - Locatelli
• Lactalis industry with BBA - Calciane - Prolacta
• Tendriade Veal with Tendriade - Eurovo - Voréal
• Lactalis International with President - Sorrento - Valbreso - Galbani - Sorrento - Locatelli - Invernizzi
• LNUF with The Milkmaid - Yoco - Flanby - Sveltesse - Vienna - Greek Yogurt - Kremly - BA - Fold

Lactalis owns 198 industrial sites in 55 countries. 17 of these countries are U.S.A,Poland, Italy,Russia,Ukraine,Spain,Scotland, Saudi Arabia,Egypt,Ireland,Portugal,Switzerland,Crotia,Czech Republic, United Kingdom,Australia and as of 2011 Canada.Lactalis mostly produces yoghurt,butter and cheese and powder milk,baby formula and milk drinks.