Lactalis American Group
Lactalis American Group is the U.S. subsidiary of France's Lactalis Group, producing and distributing branded cheese, butter, UHT milk, and yogurt through retail grocery, food service, and e-commerce channels across the United States.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersBuffalo, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Lactalis American Group does
Lactalis American Group, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Lactalis Group, a third-generation, family-owned French dairy company founded in 1933 and recognized as the world's largest dairy company (€30 billion in 2024 revenue across 94 countries). The U.S. entity, headquartered in Buffalo, NY since 1992, produces and supplies branded cheese, butter, UHT milk, and yogurt to U.S. grocery, mass, specialty, food-service, and e-commerce channels through flagship brands (Président, Galbani, Parmalat), acquired labels (Yoplait, Go-Gurt, Kraft Natural Cheese, Hoffmans, Black Diamond), ethnic and specialty sub-brands (Karoun, Blue Isle, Gopi, Yanni), and sister-company yogurts (siggi's, Stonyfield Organic, Green Mountain Creamery, Brown Cow). Operations span 10+ U.S. manufacturing facilities across NY, WI, ID, VT, CA, AZ, and NH, plus a 200,000-square-foot Midwest refrigerated distribution center in Belvidere, IL, with 1,600+ U.S. employees and a Culinary & Sensory Institute in Buffalo.
The company makes money primarily through one-time-unit sales of branded dairy products through retail grocery channels, augmented by food-service distribution and direct-to-consumer e-commerce via Cheese2U.com and Amazon Prime. Its revenue base was materially expanded in 2025 by the completed acquisition of General Mills' U.S. yogurt business (~$1.2 billion in annual net sales), and it continues to invest in functional nutrition extensions (Pronativ whey protein, :ratio Pro-Fiber for GLP-1 lifestyles, Kraft Protein Cheese Sticks). The business is privately held by the Besnier family through Lactalis Group with no external shareholders or public ticker.
Go-to-market is sales-led through a national retail network supported by dedicated Store Brands and Category Management teams, with supplementary food-service hospitality partnerships (Delaware North, Boise State Athletics, Buffalo Bills), content marketing across brand websites, PR-driven company news, and event presence at industry trade shows such as IDDBA. Multiple recent product launches (Président Leerdammer, Kraft Protein Cheese Sticks, Pronativ, :ratio Pro-Fiber) and ongoing capacity expansion ($55M Tulare feta line; Belvidere distribution build-out) signal continued offensive investment.
Lactalis American Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lactalis American Group
- Legal name
- Lactalis American Group, Inc.
- Website
- https://lactalisamericangroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Lactalis American Group is the U.S. subsidiary of France's Lactalis Group, producing and distributing branded cheese, butter, UHT milk, and yogurt through retail grocery, food service, and e-commerce channels across the United States.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lactalis American Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Dairy Products
- NAICS
- Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Cheese Manufacturing (311513), Dairy Product (except Frozen) Manufacturing (31151)
- SIC
- Dairy Products (2020), Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dairy Spreads, Dips & Cream Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Yogurt & Cultured Dairy (Yogurt, Kefir, Sour Cream, Cottage Cheese) (CRADACAB), Functional & Fortified Dairy Drinks (Vitamins/Minerals, Lactose-Free, A2, Added Fiber) (AFAHAIAE)
Keywords
Where Lactalis American Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Buffalo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices19 records
Markets served
Lactalis American Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Dairy Product Sales: Sale of manufactured dairy products including cheeses (Président, Galbani, Karoun), butters, UHT milk (Parmalat), and yogurt products through retail distribution channels. Products are sold to grocery stores, mass retailers, and specialty food retailers across the United States.
- Yogurt Business: Following the acquisition of General Mills' U.S. yogurt business, Lactalis now offers yogurt products including Yoplait and Go-Gurt brands with approximately $1.2 billion in annual net sales.
- Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Direct consumer sales through Cheese2U.com ecommerce platform for products like Président Whipped Crème and other specialty dairy items.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Retail dairy products |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Lactalis American Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lactalis American Group produces, markets, and distributes a portfolio of branded dairy products in North America under flagship brands including Président (specialty cheeses and gourmet butters), Galbani (Italian cheeses including ricotta), and Parmalat (UHT milk), complemented by yogurt brands (Yoplait, Go-Gurt, siggi's, Stonyfield Organic) and functional nutrition products (Pronativ native whey protein, :ratio Pro-Fiber). Products are manufactured across 10+ U.S. production facilities and sold through grocery retail, food service, and direct-to-consumer ecommerce channels.
Product overview
Lactalis American Group operates as a diversified dairy company offering a portfolio of branded consumer products across multiple categories including cheese, butter, yogurt, and protein nutrition. The core product architecture consists of flagship brands (Président®, Galbani®, Parmalat®) for traditional dairy, ethnic specialty brands (Karoun®, Blue Isle®, Gopi®, Yanni®) for the U.S. ethnic channel, and yogurt brands (siggi's®, Stonyfield Organic®, Yoplait, Go-Gurt, Green Mountain Creamery, Brown Cow™) through sister companies and the acquired General Mills U.S. yogurt business. The company also offers functional nutrition products including Pronativ® native whey protein, UP2U® protein drinks, and :ratio Pro-Fiber dairy snacks. Products are manufactured across multiple U.S. facilities in Buffalo NY, Nampa ID, Belmont WI, Merrill WI, and other locations, with imported specialty cheeses like Leerdammer complementing domestic production.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Président: Award-winning specialty cheeses and gourmet butters brand
- Galbani
- Parmalat
- Hoffmans Cheese
- Karoun
- siggi's
- Stonyfield Organic
- Green Mountain Creamery
- Black Diamond Cheese
Products and services
- Président Flagship specialty cheese and gourmet butter brand offering brie, camembert, feta, butter, and other premium dairy products to U.S. retail and food service customers.
- Galbani Italy's #1 cheese brand and America's #1 ricotta brand, offering Italian cheeses including ricotta, mozzarella, and specialty Italian varieties manufactured in Buffalo, NY and Nampa, ID.
- Parmalat UHT (ultra-high temperature) milk brand offering long shelf-life milk products for retail consumers.
- Yoplait Yogurt brand acquired from General Mills and now sold by Lactalis USA in U.S. retail.
- Go-Gurt Portable tube yogurt brand for kids and families, acquired from General Mills and now sold by Lactalis USA.
- siggi's Icelandic-style skyr yogurt brand offering high-protein, low-sugar yogurt products through U.S. retail.
- Stonyfield Organic Organic yogurt brand sold through U.S. retail via Lactalis U.S. Yogurt sister company.
- Karoun Ethnic cheese and yogurt brand serving the U.S. ethnic channel with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean-style dairy products.
- Green Mountain Creamery Greek-style yogurt brand sold by Commonwealth Dairy (a Lactalis entity) in U.S. retail.
- Hoffmans Cheese Cheese brand under the Lactalis portfolio offered in U.S. retail.
- Black Diamond Cheese Cheese brand marketed by Lactalis Canada, available in the U.S. market.
- Pronativ Native whey protein line engineered for performance, recovery, and overall wellness, available on Amazon Prime in four flavors.
- :ratio Pro-Fiber Dairy snack with 20g protein and 10g fiber per serving designed to support GLP-1 lifestyles, sold nationwide at retail.
- Kraft Protein Cheese Sticks High-protein cheese stick product with 17g protein per serving, released under the Kraft brand by Lactalis USA.
- UP2U Post-workout recovery protein drinks and unflavored protein powder made with PRONATIV native whey protein, targeted at fitness enthusiasts and athletes.
- Président Leerdammer Specialty import cheese from Holland combining the nuttiness of Swiss cheese and creaminess of Gouda, available in two formats in select Northeast retailers.
- Président Feta Fresh and creamy feta cheese under the Président brand, manufactured at Lactalis' Tulare, California facility (the largest U.S. feta production line).
Quantifiable outcome
- Cottage cheese and yogurt driving overall cultured dairy category strength with 19% and 14% YoY growth respectively
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Lactalis American Group
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Lactalis American Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Lactalis American Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, minor and major.
- General MillsflagshipSuccessful completion of Lactalis USA acquisition of General Mills' U.S. yogurt business including Yoplait and Go-Gurt brands. The acquisition includes two manufacturing facilities and about 1,000 employees with annual net sales of approximately $1.2 billion. Lactalis plans to invest heavily in growing the business.
- Midwest Refrigerated Services (MRS)coreMRS opened a 200,000-square foot distribution center in Belvidere, Ill. to optimize Lactalis USA's Midwest logistics network. The facility is owned and operated by MRS with state-of-the-art layer picking technology and creates 85 new jobs. It's MRS' second location in the Belvidere market.
- Consolidated Construction CompanyminorPartnered with Consolidated Construction Company to build the 200,000-square foot Midwest Refrigerated Services distribution center in Belvidere, Illinois.
- Feeding AmericacorePartnership to end hunger, increase access to nutritious dairy products, and strengthen local communities. In celebration of National Dairy Month, Lactalis committed to help provide the equivalent of 1.5 million meals to people facing hunger, along with additional product donation and initiatives for employee volunteerism and giving.
- Delaware NorthmajorGalbani Italian cheese selected as the preferred pizza cheese of Buffalo-based global hospitality and entertainment company Delaware North. Galbani cheese is manufactured in Buffalo, N.Y., and Nampa, Idaho by Lactalis American Group.
- Boise State AthleticsminorPartnership makes Galbani brand of Italian cheeses the 'Preferred Cheese of the Broncos'. Includes in-stadium presence at football and basketball games and gameday recipes for Broncos fans.
- Buffalo BillsminorGalbani selected as 'Official Cheese of the Buffalo Bills'. Galbani is a hometown cheese brand manufactured in Buffalo by Lactalis American Group.
- Kraft HeinzflagshipCombination of Kraft Heinz's Natural cheese businesses and Lactalis including Natural, Grated, Cultured and Specialty cheese teams. Represents important milestone for expanding in the U.S. and increasing exports to countries around the world.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Lactalis American Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- General Mills: General Mills sold its U.S. yogurt business to Lactalis in 2025 but retains a massive CPG portfolio including cereals, snacks, and refrigerated dough. Relevant as former parent of Yoplait/Go-Gurt and ongoing commercial partner through the Kraft Protein Cheese Sticks co-development.
- Kraft Heinz: Kraft Heinz sold its Natural Cheese business to Lactalis in 2020 but continues to operate adjacent processed cheese and broader CPG categories. Remains a relevant comparable due to historical overlap and ongoing co-branded product development (Kraft Protein Cheese Sticks).
- Dairy Farmers of America: Dairy Farmers of America is the largest U.S. dairy cooperative, producing a wide range of fluid milk, cheese, butter, and ingredients across consumer brands and B2B channels. Serves as both a key raw milk supplier to and indirect competitor of Lactalis in ingredient and retail dairy.
Direct peers
- Chobani: Chobani is the leading U.S. Greek yogurt brand and a major dairy processor with manufacturing in New York and Idaho. Overlaps directly with siggi's, Yoplait, and Stonyfield within Lactalis's U.S. yogurt portfolio and competes across retail and food service channels.
- Hilmar Cheese: Hilmar Cheese is one of the world's largest producers of American-style cheeses (Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack) and whey ingredients, with major plants in California and Texas. Comparable in scale to Lactalis's U.S. cheese operations and competes directly in retail and ingredient channels.
- Saputo: Saputo is one of the largest dairy processors in North America, producing cheese, fluid milk, and dairy ingredients with major U.S. brands like Frigo, Polly-O, and Treasure Cave. Direct overlap with Lactalis's cheese manufacturing footprint and retail distribution channels makes it the closest U.S. competitor.
- Bel Brands USA: Bel Brands produces The Laughing Cow, Babybel, and Boursin cheeses in the U.S. and is a subsidiary of Fromageries Bel. Direct competitor to Président in the specialty and snack cheese categories with overlapping retail distribution.
- Danone North America: Danone North America operates major yogurt and dairy brands including Dannon, Activia, and Oikos, with extensive U.S. manufacturing. Direct overlap with Lactalis's newly acquired Yoplait business in refrigerated yogurt and cultured dairy categories.
- Agropur: Agropur is a Canadian dairy cooperative with significant U.S. cheese, whey, and ingredients operations including brands like iögo and Natrel. Overlaps with Lactalis in cheese manufacturing, B2B ingredients, and North American retail distribution.
- Schreiber Foods: Schreiber Foods is a major privately held dairy company producing cheese, yogurt, and plant-based proteins with significant U.S. and global manufacturing operations. Direct overlap in cheese processing, private-label partnerships, and food service distribution parallels Lactalis's business model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lactalis American Group social profiles
Digital presenceLactalis American Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Lactalis American Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lactalis American Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Lactalis American Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Lactalis American Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lactalis American Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lactalis American Group
What does Lactalis American Group do?
Lactalis American Group produces, markets, and distributes a portfolio of branded dairy products in North America under flagship brands including Président (specialty cheeses and gourmet butters), Galbani (Italian cheeses including ricotta), and Parmalat (UHT milk), complemented by yogurt brands (Yoplait, Go-Gurt, siggi's, Stonyfield Organic) and functional nutrition products (Pronativ native whey protein, :ratio Pro-Fiber). Products are manufactured across 10+ U.S. production facilities and sold through grocery retail, food service, and direct-to-consumer ecommerce channels.
Is Lactalis American Group a public or private company?
Lactalis American Group is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Lactalis American Group founded?
Lactalis American Group was founded in 1982. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Lactalis American Group based?
Lactalis American Group is headquartered in Buffalo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lactalis American Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Dairy Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are yogurt Business and direct-to-Consumer E-commerce.
Who are Lactalis American Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are General Mills, Kraft Heinz and Dairy Farmers of America. Direct peers are Chobani, Hilmar Cheese, Saputo, Bel Brands USA, Danone North America, Agropur and Schreiber Foods.
Does Lactalis American Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lactalis American Group.
What industry is Lactalis American Group in?
Lactalis American Group's product category is Dairy Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAKAKAL, Dairy Spreads, Dips & Cream Cheese Manufacturing, with a secondary code of CRADACAB, Yogurt & Cultured Dairy (Yogurt, Kefir, Sour Cream, Cottage Cheese). Its NAICS code is 3115 and its SIC code is 2020.