What Lato Milk does

Lato Milk is a Uganda-based dairy brand operated by Pearl Dairy Farms Limited, founded in 2012 through a $15 million capital commitment from parent conglomerate Midland Group. The company runs an 800,000-litre-per-day UHT processing facility in Mbarara, in western Uganda, and produces a broad portfolio that spans milk powders (instant full cream, flavoured, fortified, whole, and skimmed), UHT/ESL liquid milk, flavoured and Omega-fortified milks, plain and fruit yoghurts, the Yogo Yogo drinkable yoghurt line, juices (Vita-Z, Gluco Power-B, Fruitish), infant formula and cereal, instant porridge, and butter, ghee, and butter oil. Core technology is Ultra Heat Treatment processing combined with Tetra Brik Aseptic packaging, which delivers ambient-temperature shelf stability; the facility is certified to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 22000:2018, HACCP, UNBS Q-Mark, and Uganda Halaal Bureau standards. Lato Milk is described as Uganda's largest dairy processor and exporter, with end markets in 8+ countries including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Malawi, and the UAE/Gulf region.

Lato Milk generates revenue primarily through wholesale and retail sales of branded dairy and adjacent food products, distributed via major East African supermarket chains (Shoprite, Tusky's, Best Buy, Freedom City, Master Supermarket) and through export channels reached at trade fairs such as Gulfood and the Intra-African Trade Fair. The company also operates institutional supply arrangements, most notably a multi-year sponsorship and athlete-nutrition partnership with the Uganda Olympic Committee covering the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic cycles. Its go-to-market mix is heavily event-driven, combining retail distribution with sports sponsorships (rally championships, motocross, Bright Stars FC), brand ambassadors (Masaka Kids Africana, Spice Diana), school milk programs across Uganda and Tanzania, and in-mall activations in Kenya.

The operating model is anchored by a vertically integrated supply chain in which 50+ Dairy Development Officers train and support smallholder farmers across the Mbarara and Kiruhura regions, supporting both raw milk sourcing and community positioning. Adjacent programs include Lato Help (social enterprise funding corrective surgeries for children with disabilities, over 28 children treated since October 2018), Lato Green (recycling partnership with Adarsh Polymers and clean-up drives with Nairobi City County), and the Pearl Dairy Farmers' Community initiative. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the company does not operate any software, SaaS, or AI-driven product line.

Name

Lato Milk

Legal name

Pearl Dairy Farms Limited

Website

https://latomilk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Lato Milk is a Ugandan dairy brand owned by Pearl Dairy Farms Limited, operating an 800,000 litres/day UHT processing facility in Mbarara to produce and distribute branded dairy and beverage products across 8+ African and Middle Eastern markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dairy Products

NAICS

Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Fluid Milk Manufacturing (311511), Dry, Condensed, and Evaporated Dairy Product Manufacturing (311514)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020)

akta.pro primary industry

Fluid Milk & Cream Processing (AFAKAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Shelf-Stable Dairy Beverages (UHT/ASEPTIC Flavored Milk, Ambient Lassi) (AFAHAIAH), Infant Formula & Specialized Dairy Nutrition Manufacturing (AFAKAKAJ), Dairy Spreads, Dips & Cream Cheese Manufacturing (AFAKAKAL), Flavored & Sweetened Milk Drinks (Chocolate/Strawberry, Malted Milk) (AFAHAIAA)

Keywords

• Dairy processing
• UHT milk production
• Milk powder manufacturing
• Yoghurt and flavoured milk
• Dairy exports

Headquarters

HQ city

Kampala

HQ country

Uganda

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Dairy Products Wholesale and Retail: Lato Milk generates revenue through manufacturing and selling a wide range of dairy products including milk powder (whole, skimmed, instant full cream, fortified, flavoured), liquid UHT milk, flavoured milk, yoghurt, butter, ghee, butter oil, and infant formula/cereal. Products are sold through retail supermarket chains, convenience stores, wholesale distributors, and direct to consumers across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and expanding into Ethiopia, South Sudan, Malawi, and other African markets.
2. Lato Help Social Enterprise Product Line: The Lato Help Pack product line, where 100% of gross proceeds from the sale of Lato Help packs go towards financing corrective surgical procedures for children with disabilities in Uganda. This functions as both a revenue stream and a CSR/social impact initiative.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Lato Milk manufactures and distributes a wide range of processed dairy products including milk powders, UHT liquid milk, flavoured and Omega-fortified milk, yoghurt, butter, ghee, butter oil, infant formula, infant cereal, instant porridge, and juices, sourced from local Ugandan dairy farmers and processed at an 800,000-litres-per-day facility in Mbarara. Products are sold to consumers through retail supermarket chains, convenience stores, and export distributors across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Malawi, and Middle East markets.

Product overview

Lato Milk is a dairy and food products company offering a broad portfolio organized across multiple categories: milk powders (instant full cream, flavored, fortified, whole, and skimmed varieties), liquid milk products (Fino Pack, ESL, Slim Pack, and beverage creamer), flavoured milk beverages, Omega-fortified flavored milks, yoghurts including plain and fruit varieties, Yogo Yogo drinkable yoghurt, juice products including Vita-Z, Gluco Power-B, and Fruitish Powder, infant nutrition products (formula and cereal), instant porridge, and butter products (salted, unsalted, butter oil, and ghee). The product range spans from everyday consumer staples to specialized nutritional products for infants and health-conscious consumers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lato Help: CSR initiative where proceeds from specially marked Lato Help packs fund corrective surgeries for children with disabilities in Uganda
• Lato Green
• Farmers Community
• Yogo Yogo
• Fino Pack
• Vita-Z
• Gluco Power-B

Products and services

• Instant Full Cream Milk Powder Powdered whole milk that dissolves instantly for convenient preparation with retained nutritional content, sold in retail supermarket packs (including 400gm tins) for household use.
• Flavoured Milk Powder Powdered milk in various flavors offering variety while maintaining milk nutrition for household and child consumption.
• Fortified Milk Powder Milk powder enriched with additional vitamins and minerals for enhanced nutritional value, targeted at health-conscious consumers and families.
• Whole Milk Powder Full-fat powdered milk for general consumption and cooking applications, recognized with the UNBS Q-mark quality certification.
• Skimmed Milk Powder Low-fat powdered milk with reduced calorie content for health-conscious consumers, certified halal by the Uganda Halaal Bureau.
• Fino Pack Liquid Milk Premium packaged liquid milk in Tetra Brik Aseptic format for household consumption, allowing ambient storage without refrigeration.
• ESL Milk (Extended Shelf Life) Liquid milk with extended shelf life allowing longer storage before opening, targeted at consumers needing longer-lasting dairy options.
• Slim Pack Liquid Milk Condensed format liquid milk in slim packaging for portion control and convenience.
• Beverage Creamer Creamer product for beverage preparation and enhancement in homes and foodservice.
• Chocolate Flavoured Milk Ready-to-drink chocolate flavored milk beverage sold in retail packs across Uganda and East Africa.
• Custard Flavoured Milk Ready-to-drink custard-flavored milk beverage offering a unique taste profile.
• Strawberry Flavoured Milk Ready-to-drink strawberry-flavored milk beverage popular with children and families.
• Vanilla Flavoured Milk Ready-to-drink vanilla-flavored milk beverage for consumers preferring mild sweetness.
• Banana Omega Fortified Milk Banana-flavored milk fortified with Omega fatty acids for health benefits.
• Orange Omega Fortified Milk Orange-flavored milk fortified with Omega fatty acids for nutritional supplementation.
• Pineapple Omega Fortified Milk Pineapple-flavored milk fortified with Omega fatty acids for nutritional supplementation.
• Yoghurt Range (Strawberry, Plain, Vanilla) Fermented dairy yoghurt in strawberry, plain, and vanilla variants sold in retail packs across Uganda and East Africa.
• Fruit Yoghurt Range Yoghurt with fruit preparations including mango and peach, mixed berries, peach and caramel, strawberry fruit, and vanilla pods variants.
• Yogo Yogo Drinkable Yoghurt Drinkable yoghurt in portable tube packaging for healthy on-the-go snacking, popular with children.
• Juices (Vita-Z, Gluco Power-B, Fruitish Powder) Vitamin-enriched juice beverages including Vita-Z (vitamin-supplemented), Gluco Power-B (energy-focused with glucose and B-vitamins), and Fruitish Powder (powdered juice mix for reconstitution).
• Infant Formula Specially formulated milk substitute for infant nutrition meeting developmental needs.
• Infant Cereal Cereal-based complementary food for infants transitioning to solid foods.
• Instant Porridge Quick-preparation porridge mix for convenient meal solution for families.
• Butter (Salted and Unsalted) Butter in salted and unsalted variants for household cooking, baking, and table use.
• Butter Oil Clarified butter oil for cooking and food preparation, certified halal for Muslim markets including the Middle East.
• Ghee Clarified traditional butter product used in cooking and as a cooking medium, introduced for export markets via Gulfood Festival 2014 in Dubai.
• Lato Help Pack Specially marked Lato Help dairy packs sold through Ugandan supermarkets with 100% of gross proceeds funding corrective surgical procedures for children with disabilities in Uganda through partner UMC Victoria Hospital.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 28 children treated for disabilities through Lato Help initiative since October 2018
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Abahumuza Development GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 July 2023Lato Milk partnered with Abahumuza Development Group to organize the Save River Rwizi Marathon, focused on cleaning and restoration of River Rwizi with tree planting along river banks to increase groundwater level.
• Spice DianaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 August 2022Lato Milk sponsored the Go Green Festival 2022 where musician Spice Diana performed as a special attraction to draw crowds and create an exciting atmosphere at East Africa's largest sustainability event.
• Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 July 2021Lato Milk partnered with UOC to sponsor the Uganda Olympic Team for Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. The partnership includes providing dairy products directly to athletes during training and competitions for nutritional support.
• Masaka Kids AfricanacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 July 2021Pearl Dairy signed Masaka Kids Africana (a children's home with talented dance performers from ages 2+) as brand ambassadors for Lato Milk. The partnership aligns with Lato Milk's commitment to empowering young children and the community.
• Nairobi City CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2019Lato Green partnered with Nairobi City County and residents of Kibera for city cleaning drives. The partnership organized clean-up exercises in Kayole and Kibera districts to reduce improper disposal of waste and promote environmental responsibility.
• Uganda's Little HandscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 August 2018Lato Milk partnered with Uganda's Little Hands Go Green initiative as platinum partner for the annual Go Green Festival, aimed at planting over 100,000 fruit trees in primary schools across Uganda and educating school children on environmental awareness.
• Adarsh Polymers LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Lato Green partnered with Adarsh Polymers to ensure the environment is free from pollutants through recycling of non-biodegradable waste. Adarsh Polymers converts plastic milk pouches into eco-friendly products. The partnership aims to send zero waste to landfill and has launched plastic waste collection drives in Nairobi, Kenya.
• WeetabixminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 September 2016Lato Milk partnered with Weetabix to offer free 112gm of Weetabix with every purchase of 400gm Lato Milk Instant Full Cream Milk Powder. This promotional partnership offered consumers a healthy breakfast combination.
• IFC (International Finance Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Pearl Dairy established the Pearl Dairy Farmers' Community in collaboration with IFC to support dairy farmers through best-in-class training to improve cattle rearing skills and knowledge. IFC is a co-development partner in the dairy development program.
• Pearl Dairy Farmers CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPearl Dairy Farmers' Community is a not-for-profit initiative to support dairy farmers through training, model farms, and milk collection centers. Over 50 Dairy Development Officers are deployed to empower local dairy farmers.
• WWF UgandaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWWF Uganda participated in the Save River Rwizi Marathon 2023 as a partner, with Ivan Tuhumbise flagging off the marathon event.
• Lato Help (Social Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLato Help is an internal social initiative where 100% of gross proceeds from Lato Help Pack sales finance corrective surgeries for children with disabilities in Uganda. UMC Victoria Hospital provides surgical treatment.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Brookside Dairy: Kenya's largest dairy processor with broad UHT, yoghurt, butter and powder range. Closest direct competitor to Lato in the East African retail and export markets, operating at similar scale and category mix.
• Jesa Farm Dairy: Uganda-based dairy processor producing UHT milk, flavoured milk, yoghurt and ghee under its own brand. A direct domestic peer competing in the same Ugandan retail channels.
• Sameer Agriculture and Livestock: Major East African dairy operator with processing in Kenya and Uganda, producing UHT milk, butter, ghee, and milk powder. Closely comparable in product mix and cross-border East African distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Danone: Global dairy and plant-based nutrition major with branded UHT milk, yoghurt and infant nutrition across Africa. Overlaps with Lato in flavoured milk, yoghurt and infant formula categories.
• FrieslandCampina: Global dairy multinational with deep presence in Africa, including milk powder, UHT and yoghurt. Competes with Lato in export markets and in B2B dairy ingredients, but at vastly larger scale and across a much wider portfolio.
• Lactalis: World's largest dairy group with extensive butter, ghee, cheese and milk powder operations. Overlaps with Lato in Middle East and African dairy exports, particularly in butter oil and ghee.
• Nestlé: Global food and nutrition incumbent producing milk powder, UHT products, infant formula and flavoured dairy across Africa and the Middle East. A direct competitor in Lato's powder, UHT and infant formula export channels.

Regional players

• Vitalait: Moroccan dairy processor with UHT milk, flavoured milk, yoghurt and butter products across North and West Africa. Comparable in product format and UHT focus, but serves North Africa rather than East Africa.
• Clover Industries: Southern Africa's largest dairy processor producing UHT milk, flavoured milk, yoghurt and butter. Comparable in product format but operates in a different sub-region (Southern Africa).
• Tanga Fresh: Tanzania's leading dairy processor producing pasteurised and UHT milk, yoghurt, butter, ghee and cheese. Comparable in technology profile but operates primarily within Tanzania, making it a regional rather than pan-African peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lato Milk