Lactalis
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Dairy product manufacturer
World's largest dairy company with 250 production sites in 50 countries. Founded in 1933 by Andre Besnier; his descendants still own and oversee the company. Increased its stake in Parmalat from 29% to 83% in July 2011. Bought Lemnos Foods in 2010 and Jindi cheese in Nov 2012.
Lactalis Group | FRA | website |
Company Assessment
PRAISE | CRITICISM | INFORMATION | ||
Lactalis Group | ||||
Forest 500 identifies the 350 companies and 150 financial institutions with the greatest exposure to tropical deforestation risk, and annually assesses them on the strength and implementation of their deforestation and human rights commitments. This company received a score of 13%.
Source: Forest 500 (2022)
The Global Access to Nutrition Index assesses how the world's 25 largest global food and beverage manufacturers contribute to addressing malnutrition in all its forms: overweight and obesity, undernutrition, and micronutrient deficiency. All have been assessed on their commitments, practices, and disclosure with regards to governance and management; the production and distribution of healthy, affordable, accessible products; and how they influence consumer choices and behavior. Of the 25 companies ranked, this company came 23rd.
Source: Access to Nutrition Foundation (2021)
The 2021 Food and Agriculture Benchmark assessed 350 keystone companies across the entirety of the food system, from farm to fork. It covers three dimensions where transformation is needed: nutrition, environment and social inclusion. This company ranked #315/350, with a total score of 0.7/100.
Source: World Benchmarking Alliance (2021)
The WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard 2021 assesses 227 companies on the actions companies have taken to ensure their own palm oil supply chain is sustainable and free of deforestation, natural ecosystem conversion, and human rights abuse. This company is rated 'lagging behind' with a score of 6.66 out of a possible total of 24.
Source: WWF Palm Oil Buyers Scorecard (2021)
The livestock sector is the single largest contributor to man-made methane emissions. Even though rapid reductions of methane emissions are needed to slow the rate of global warming, the largest meat and dairy corporations are oblivious to the problem. Changing Markets' 2021 report 'Blindspot' investigated the policies and actions of 20 meat and dairy giants to reduce their methane emissions. This company scored 3.2/100 for their methane policy and actions.
Source: Changing Markets (2021)
In 2022, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts towards removing commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from its direct operations and supply chains. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Forests Score of D.
Source: CDP (2022)
This company is named and shamed in IBFAN's 2017 report, 'Breaking the Rules, Stretching the Rules 2017', evidence of violations of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, compiled from June 2014 to June 2017. The report covers 792 Code violations from 79 countries and by 28 companies.
Source: IBFAN (2017)
The 2021 Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) report ranks global food companies on how they are managing and reporting their farm animal welfare policies and practices. This company appeared in tier 5, "On the business agenda but limited evidence of implementation", with tier 1 being the best, and tier 6 the worst.
Source: BBFAW (2021) |
In 2010 US-based Lactalis subsidiary Sorrento Lactalis paid the United States a $315,000 penalty for excess discharges in violation of its wastewater permit levels. The company discharged the excess pollutants into Mason Creek from its factory operations in Nampa, Idaho, in violation of the Clean Water Act. The company repeatedly violated its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit over a period of three years from December 2005 to September 2008.
Source: EPA (2010)
This company received a score of 2 out of a possible total of 24 in the WWF Soy Scorecard 2016, which rates companies on their use of responsible soy, grown without damaging the environment and harming people. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
Source: WWF Soy Scorecard 2016 (2016)
Lactalis and Nestle created a dairy products joint venture in 2006 called Lactalis Nestle Chilled Dairy, which operates in nine European countries. Nestle is the target of a boycott call.
Source: company website (2006)
Five hundred French dairy farmers are to take Lactalis to court over the price they were paid in 2014 for their milk.
Source: news article (2015) |
Company Details
Type | Family-owned private company |
Founded | 1933 |
Revenue | 20 billion EUR (2019) |
Employees | 75,000 (2019) |
Subsidiaries | Lactalis Australia Ltd ![]() Dairy product manufacturing This Australian dairy company became foreign owned in 1998 when Italian dairy giant Parmalat bought Pauls Ltd. Parmalat was acquired by French dairy giant Lactalis in 2011. Acquired WA dairy and fruit juice company Harvey Fresh in 2014 for $120m. Changed its name from Parmalat Australia to Lactalis Australia in 2019. - Jalna Dairy Foods Pty Ltd ![]() Yoghurt manufacturer Founded in 1959 by Polish migrant Simon Goldman, who sold the business to the McLaren family in 1978 for $350,000. In 2022 French dairy giant Lactalis acquired the yoghurt business. Jalna has a 12 per cent market share of yoghurt in Australia, with most of their sales through Coles and Woolworths. - Harvey Fresh (1994) Pty Ltd ![]() Beverages manufacturing Western Australian based juice and dairy company. Bought the assets of Challenge Australia Dairy in 2011. Acquired by Parmalat in April 2014 for $120m. - Tamar Valley Dairy Pty Ltd ![]() Dairy company Founded in Tasmania in 1996. Entered voluntary administration in Sept 2013 and acquired by Fonterra in Nov 2013, who sold the business to Parmalat in Dec 2015. Bel SA (24% owned) ![]() Cheese makers Formerly Fromageries Bel SA. Parmalat SpA (96% owned) ![]() Food and beverages (especially dairy) The company was restructured in 2005 to aid recovery from the 14 billion euro fraud uncovered in 2003. French dairy giant Lactalis became majority owners in 2011. Jindi Cheese Pty Ltd ![]() Cheese manufacturers Jindi was founded in 1985 by the Ronald family before being acquired in 2005 by its distribution company, Menora Foods, which sold the business in 2012 to French dairy giant Lactalis for $20 million. Lemnos Foods Pty Ltd ![]() Cheese maker Lemnos Foods is the leading manufacturer of Fetta and Haloumi cheese in Australia. Established in Australia in 1969 and acquired by French dairy giant Lactalis in 2010. Exports to about 40 countries worldwide. |
Contact Details
Address | Laval, France |
groupe.lactalis@lactalis.fr | |
Website | www.lactalis.fr/en/ |
Products / Brands
Lactalis
S26 Alula Baby Formula SMA Baby Formula |
Lactalis Australia
Jalna Dairy Foods
Jalna Custard & Desserts
Jalna ![]() |
Harvey Fresh
Capel Valley Cheese
Harvey Fresh Juice & Fruit Drinks Harvey Fresh Milk |
Bel Group (24% owned)
Jindi Cheese
Jindi Cheese |