Lactalis to acquire Agropur specialty cheese business and two Quebec plants
Lactalis has agreed to acquire Agropur’s specialty cheese division, including the OKA, Monsieur Gustav and L’Extra brands. The business generates about €115 million in annual revenue and includes two Quebec plants, import operations and 400 employees.
Lactalis expands in its third-largest market
French dairy group Lactalis has agreed to acquire the specialty cheese division of Canadian cooperative Agropur, adding three established Quebec brands and two production sites to its Canadian operations. Announced on July 15, the transaction covers the Monsieur Gustav, OKA and L’Extra brands, according to Le Figaro.
Lactalis said the acquisition would expand its presence in Canada, its third-largest market, and strengthen its leadership in cheese. The company already operates a broad dairy portfolio through brands including Président, Lactel and Bridel. The latest agreement follows its earlier expansion in Canadian yogurt and deepens its position in higher-value dairy categories.
Deal includes factories, imports and 400 employees
The acquired division generates annual revenue of approximately €115 million, equivalent to C$180 million. Lactalis and Agropur did not disclose the purchase price. The assets include plants in Oka and Sainte-Hyacinthe, both in southern Quebec, as well as several cheese-importing activities.
About 400 employees currently working for the division will transfer to Lactalis once the transaction is completed, the French group told Agence France-Presse. The package therefore gives Lactalis more than consumer brands: it adds local production capacity, an established workforce and import channels serving the Canadian cheese market.
Competition approval remains outstanding
The acquisition requires authorization from Canada’s Competition Bureau. Lactalis has not announced a completion date, making regulatory clearance the principal outstanding condition. Until approval is obtained and the transaction closes, the brands, plants and importing operations remain part of Agropur.
For cheese importers and distributors, the transfer could place local manufacturing and imported specialty products under a larger international supplier. The presence of import operations in the acquired division is particularly relevant because it gives Lactalis additional infrastructure for managing both Canadian-made and foreign cheese within the same business.
Global scale meets established Quebec brands
Lactalis operates in 50 countries, employs 85,000 people and recorded revenue of €31.2 billion in 2025, according to Le Figaro. Against that global scale, the acquired division’s €115 million in revenue is modest, but its value lies in recognizable brands, two operating plants and access to a market the group already ranks among its three largest.
For Agropur, the agreement transfers a complete specialty cheese operation rather than an isolated label. For Lactalis, it combines regional brand equity with physical production and importing capabilities. The commercial impact will depend on regulatory approval and how the group integrates the brands and distribution channels; no changes to output, product ranges or trade volumes have been announced.
