LAVAL, FRANCE — The Lactalis Group took a step forward in significantly expanding its yogurt business in the United States with the pending acquisition of General Mills’ US yogurt brands and facilities.
The French dairy company will acquire such yogurt brands as Mountain High and :Ratio from General Mills as well as brands under license like Yoplait, Go-Gurt, Oui and others under the agreement announced Sept. 12. In addition, the company will add manufacturing facilities in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and Reed City, Mich.
General Mills’ US yogurt business had sales of approximately $1.2 billion in fiscal 2024, according to Lactalis.
The cooperative’s yogurt portfolio in the United States is currently made up of such brands as Siggi’s, Stonyfield Organic, Brown Cow and Green Mountain Creamery.
“With this acquisition, we are expanding our position in the US yogurt market,” said Emmanuel Besnier, chairman of the Lactalis Group. “These iconic brands are a strategic fit for Lactalis that broaden the range of our consumers and allow us to become a key dairy player in the US.”
As part of the transaction, General Mills also is selling its Canadian yogurt business to the French dairy cooperative Sodiaal, Paris.
The price to be received by General Mills for its US and Canadian assets is approximately $2.1 billion.
“We are proud to have signed this agreement with General Mills to take over the activities of our Yoplait and Liberté brands in Canada,” said Jean-Michel Javelle, president of Sodiaal. “This project further confirms Yoplait’s return to the cooperative’s vision, a true national heritage brand that makes our farmers and employees proud. This acquisition strengthens our presence around the world and further promotes our French dairy expertise, which is appreciated across the Atlantic.”
The Canadian business, which includes a manufacturing plant in Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., had sales of approximately $300 million in fiscal 2024.