Groupe CILAM Pôle Agro-Alimentaire

What Groupe CILAM Pôle Agro-Alimentaire does

Groupe CILAM Pôle Agro-Alimentaire is the leading agro-industrial group in La Réunion and the Indian Ocean, founded in 1964 as the Compagnie Laitière des Mascareignes and operating today as a cooperative-owned holding under the URCOOPA federation (via SOFICOOP). The group operates 14-15 brands across approximately 500 product references spanning six product families: milk, fresh dairy, ice cream, cheese, beverages and juices, and bottled water. Manufacturing is conducted across three industrial sites and four storage sites in La Réunion (headquartered in Saint-Denis, with production centered in Saint-Pierre and a water bottling facility at Saint-Philippe), collecting 15-16 million litres of milk annually from local farmers via its exclusive supply arrangement with SICALAIT. The company conducts 30 quality controls per product and applies HACCP and Codex Alimentarius standards across its industrial sites, with about 400,000 CILAM products consumed daily on the island.

The group's revenue model is anchored in branded food and beverage manufacturing, combining own brands (Australine, Diego, Lovelac, Piton des Neiges, Fromages de La Réunion, Kalao, Maronel, Balkis, Cadet Roussel, Caresse Créole, Boudou) with franchise manufacturing agreements for national brands — Candia and Yoplait under Sodiaal, Réa under Eckes Granini, and Pilpa under Froneri. Distribution flows through large and medium supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores, and a dedicated Point CHR channel serving professional and institutional catering; the group also exports to Mayotte and the wider Indian Ocean region, with the Diego brand selectively available in mainland France. Reported revenue stands at €120 million (2024) with 550+ collaborators.

The group is owned by four agricultural cooperatives (SICALAIT for dairy, CPPR for pork, CANE, and Proval) and is currently operating under a recovery plan adopted in May 2025 following the late-2024 judicial recovery (redressement judiciaire) of parent holding SOFICOOP. New governance under President Henri Lebon and Director General Christian Dijoux is overseeing the restructuring while core operations continue to launch new products across yogurt, ice cream, beverages, and water categories.

Name

Groupe CILAM Pôle Agro-Alimentaire

Legal name

CILAM SA

Website

https://cilam-agro.re

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Cooperative-owned agro-industrial group founded in 1964 and headquartered in La Réunion, manufacturing 500+ food and beverage references across 14-15 brands — including franchise brands for Sodiaal, Eckes Granini, and Froneri — for mass-market consumers across local retail and food-service channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dairy and Food Manufacturing

NAICS

Fluid Milk Manufacturing (311511), Dairy Product Manufacturing (3115), Cheese Manufacturing (311513), Beverage Manufacturing (3121), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Dairy Products (2020), Food And Kindred Products (2000), Beverages (2080), Bottled & Canned Soft Drinks & Carbonated Waters (2086)

akta.pro primary industry

Consumer Packaged Fluid Milk (White Milk) Processing (AFAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refrigerated Juices & Smoothies (CRADACAL), Cultured Cottage Cheese & Quark Manufacturing (AFAHADAH), Dairy-Based Beverage Wholesale (Milk Drinks, Yogurt Drinks) (AFAIAGAG)

Keywords

• Dairy products manufacturing
• Bottled water production
• Fruit juice processing
• Ice cream manufacturing
• Cheese production

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-Denis

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Food and Beverage Product Sales: Manufacture and sale of a wide range of food and beverage products including UHT milk, pasteurised milk, fresh dairy products (yoghurts, cream, desserts), ice creams and sorbets, cheeses, fruit juices and drinks, and bottled water. The group operates 15 brands across 500 product references, generating €120 million in revenue.
2. Franchise Brand Distribution: Distribution of licensed franchise brands including Candia and Yoplait (under agreement with Sodiaal), Réa (under agreement with Eckes Granini), and Pilpa ice creams (partnership with Froneri). Revenue is generated through local manufacturing and distribution of these franchise products.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Groupe CILAM manufactures and distributes food and beverage products across six families - milk, fresh dairy, juices and beverages, ice cream, cheese, and bottled water - under 14 brands and 500 product references. The group collects 15–16 million litres of milk annually from local Réunion farmers and operates 3 industrial sites in La Réunion. It also runs a dedicated Point CHR distribution channel serving professional catering, hotels, and institutional food service clients.

Product overview

Groupe CILAM Pôle Agro-Alimentaire operates as the leading agri-food industry group in the Indian Ocean region, organized as a cooperative-owned holding with 14 brands and 500 product references across six product families. The portfolio consists of own brands (Australine water, Balkis/Cadet Roussel/Lovelac milk, Boudou/Piton des Neiges/Lovelac ice creams, Diego/Caresse Créole/Kalao/Maronel beverages and juices, Fromages de La Réunion cheeses) and franchise brands (Candia and Yoplait under Sodiaal, Réa under Eckes Granini, Pilpa under Froneri). Manufacturing occurs across 3 industrial sites and 4 storage sites in La Réunion, with a professional catering channel (Point CHR). The company collects 16 million liters of local milk annually and conducts 30 quality controls per product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Australine: Bottled spring water brand, captured and bottled at Saint-Philippe, Réunion
• Lovelac
• Diego
• Kalao
• Piton des Neiges
• Fromages de La Réunion
• Caresse Créole
• Maronel
• Boudou
• Balkis
• Cadet Roussel
• Réa
• Pilpa
• Yoplait
• Candia

Products and services

• Australine bottled water Locally bottled spring water brand captured at Saint-Philippe, La Réunion. Sold through retail and food service across La Réunion and the Indian Ocean region.
• Lovelac milk and ice cream range Emblematic La Réunion milk brand offering UHT milk, drinking yogurts, and ice cream novelties for the local market.
• Diego juices and frozen fruit sticks Iconic Réunion beverage brand offering fruit juices, nectars, and frozen fruit sticks (Diego Boudou). Also available in select outlets in mainland France.
• Kalao iced teas and fruit drinks Refreshing beverage brand offering iced teas and fruit drinks including Thé Passion, Pomme Hibiscus Framboise, and other formats.
• Piton des Neiges fresh dairy and ice cream Dairy brand producing yogurts, crème fraîche, and ice creams made exclusively from fresh Réunion milk.
• Fromageries de Bourbon (FBB) cheeses Local cheese brand manufactured by subsidiary Fromageries de Bourbon (FBB), producing cheeses such as Piton des Neiges and Piton Maïdo for La Réunion.
• Boudou ice cream Ice cream brand offering frozen desserts and novelties for the Réunion mass market.
• Balkis and Cadet Roussel milk brands Traditional milk brands offering UHT and pasteurised milk products for La Réunion consumers.
• Caresse Créole fruit nectars and juices Beverage and fruit nectar brand including the Letchi nectar in 1L glass jar format.
• Maronel Ayapana infusions Infusion brand offering traditional Réunion beverages including the Ayapana Pêche infusion made from ayapana plant and apple juice with peach flavour.
• Candia milk (franchise brand) Milk brand manufactured and distributed in La Réunion under franchise agreement with Sodiaal, offering UHT semi-skimmed milk and other dairy products.
• Yoplait yogurts (franchise brand) Yogurt brand manufactured and distributed in La Réunion under franchise agreement with Sodiaal, including Skyr, à la Grecque, Panier yogurts, and drinking YOP range.
• Réa juices (franchise brand) Juice brand distributed under agreement with Eckes Granini, offering Réveil Fruité, Réa Santé vitamin-enriched ranges, and Réa Pomme.
• Pilpa ice creams (franchise brand) Ice cream brand manufactured under partnership with Froneri, offering the PILPA MAX premium line and a range of sorbets and ice cream sticks.
• Point CHR professional catering channel Dedicated professional distribution channel serving commercial restaurants, hotels, institutional catering, and distribution clients with the full CILAM product range in food-service formats.

Quantifiable outcome

• 120 million euros annual revenue (2024)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SICALAITcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024SICALAIT is the dairy sector cooperative that collects milk from Réunion dairy farmers. CILAM has a commitment to purchase the entirety of SICALAIT's milk production, making CILAM the cornerstone of Réunion's local dairy supply chain.
• CPPR (Coopérative des Producteurs de Porcs de la Réunion)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four agricultural cooperative shareholders of Groupe CILAM. CPPR represents pork producers of La Réunion and participates in the cooperative governance structure of the group.
• CANEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four agricultural cooperative shareholders of Groupe CILAM, participating in the cooperative governance structure.
• ProvalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four agricultural cooperative shareholders of Groupe CILAM, participating in the cooperative governance structure.
• Sodiaal (Candia, Yoplait)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCILAM manufactures and distributes Candia and Yoplait brands at La Réunion under franchise agreement with Sodiaal, France's largest dairy cooperative. Candia covers UHT and pasteurised milk; Yoplait covers fresh dairy products including yoghurts, Skyr, and drinking yoghurts.
• Eckes Granini (Réa)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCILAM manufactures and distributes Réa brand fruit juices and nectars at La Réunion under agreement with the Eckes Granini group. Products include Réa Réveil Fruité, Réa Santé, and Réa Pomme.
• Froneri (Pilpa)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerCILAM manufactures and distributes Pilpa ice creams at La Réunion under partnership with Froneri, a leading ice cream company. Products include Pilpa Max new flavours, sorbets, and ice cream sticks.
• Fromageries de Bourbon (FBB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFBB (Fromageries de Bourbon) is CILAM's subsidiary and the principal cheese manufacturer of La Réunion. Produces local cheeses including Piton des Neiges and Piton Maïdo, contributing to Réunion's food autonomy.
• AC2V RéunionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnvironmental partnership for CILAM's beach cleanup operations (Australine Opération Ramassage). AC2V Réunion assists with waste sorting and proper recycling of collected materials during environmental action days.
• Les Produits D.E.F.IminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCILAM partnered with Les Produits D.E.F.I on the 'Défi Accepté' web series, featuring Réunion personalities visiting local dairy farms to raise awareness about Réunion livestock farming.
• Thomski_974minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Réunion influencer Thomski_974 partnered with CILAM's Fromageries de Bourbon to create recipe content promoting local Réunion cheeses against imported competition.
• Research Partnerships (Métropole)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCILAM collaborates with research centres based in mainland France (métropole) to develop innovative industrial processes for reducing water, energy, and chemical consumption, and for developing more responsible packaging.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sodiaal: France's largest dairy cooperative and CILAM's principal franchise partner (Candia, Yoplait). Comparable as a cooperative dairy processor with multi-brand portfolio, though operating at far greater scale on the French mainland.
• Froneri: Global ice cream manufacturer (Nestlé/R&R Partners JV) and CILAM's franchise partner for Pilpa. Comparable through ice cream manufacturing and branded frozen dessert distribution partnerships.
• Eckes Granini: European juice and beverage group and CILAM's franchise partner for Réa. Comparable through fruit juice and nectar manufacturing under licensing/franchise models in regional markets.

Broad incumbents

• Savencia Fromage & Dairy: French dairy and cheese specialty group operating globally. Comparable through cheese and specialty dairy manufacturing, with a similar focus on branded dairy value-added products.
• Danone: Global dairy and plant-based beverage giant. Comparable in dairy processing, yogurt, and water bottling (via evian/Volvic) categories where CILAM operates, though Danone serves worldwide markets while CILAM is regional.
• Lactalis: World's largest dairy group, family-owned and France-based. Directly comparable through cheese manufacturing, fluid milk, and butter categories; competes indirectly via imports in La Réunion.
• Bel Group: French cheese and healthy snack manufacturer (Laughing Cow, Babybel, Kiri). Comparable through cheese manufacturing and branded dairy snacks; similar in operating from French cooperative roots but global in distribution.
• Nestlé France: French arm of global FMCG giant with significant presence in dairy, beverages, ice cream, and water. Comparable through overlapping product categories and indirect competition in La Réunion retail channels.

Regional players

• Yeo Frais: French dairy group (part of LSDH) specializing in fresh dairy products, juices, and plant-based beverages. Comparable through multi-category beverage and dairy manufacturing for regional French markets.
• Compagnie Laitière Européenne: French dairy cooperative focused on local and regional French dairy markets. Comparable to CILAM through its cooperative ownership structure and focus on local dairy processing, though operating on the mainland rather than overseas.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCiR4PW638QYOUibRNvHkLaA/videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/groupe-cilam

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Groupe CILAM Pôle Agro-Alimentaire