Lactalis, the French family-owned company and world leader in dairy products, today announces that it has reached a definitive agreement with Canadian dairy group Saputo Inc. to acquire its UK Dairy Division. Through this acquisition, Lactalis becomes a leading supplier of cheddar and butter & spreads in the United Kingdom. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2027, subject to certain customary closing conditions, including the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals.
Saputo Inc.’s UK Dairy division is renowned for its portfolio of popular dairy brands. This integration will enable Lactalis UK to expand its offering with leading products such as Cathedral City and Davidstow cheddar cheeses, Wensleydale Creamery cheeses, including Yorkshire Wensleydale with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status, Country Life butter as well as Clover and Utterly Butterly spreads.
Deeply rooted in Britain’s dairy heritage and built on a longstanding tradition of artisanal expertise, these brands have held a special place on British consumers’ tables for decades. Over the past 60 years, Cathedral City has established itself as the UK’s favourite cheddar brand. Distributed through specialist cheese retailers, supermarkets and foodservice outlets, the subsidiary’s products are primarily sold in the UK, which accounts for 94% of sales, with the remaining 6% exported to Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America.
“This acquisition marks a key milestone in Lactalis’ development in the United Kingdom. By welcoming famous brands and recognised expertise into the group, we are strengthening our position in the UK market and reaffirming our commitment to providing consumers with high-quality dairy products,” said Emmanuel Besnier, Chairman of Lactalis.
The company employs approximately 1,300 people and operates five production sites located in Hawes (Yorkshire), Davidstow (Cornwall), Nuneaton (Warwickshire), Kirkby (Merseyside) and the Isle of Bute (Scotland). In its latest financial year, the business generated revenues of €800 million.
