Lactalis Heritage Dairy strives to preserve local culture and heritage
By Pamela O Brien
An 89-year-old, third generation, family-owned, multinational French dairy corporation, steeped in tradition and success, has come to Tulare with arms wide open following the acquisition of the Kraft Heinz natural cheese business.
With this venture, Lactalis Group, the world’s largest dairy company and cheese maker with 85,000 employees in 94 countries launched Lactalis Heritage Dairy in the U.S.
Christopher Bona, director, U.S. communications, Lactalis USA, said despite the size of its subsidiaries with 3,700 employees in the U.S., Lactalis Heritage Dairy feels like a family company.
How can that be when Lactalis' American business totals approximately $3.5 billion in revenue and $25 billion internationally?
“The first thing it starts with is our values of engagement, ambition, simplicity and a passion for dairy,” Bona explained.
It is these values which pervade the company, just like they did in 1933 when Andre Besnier crafted his first Camembert cheeses in Laval, France, where the corporation is still headquartered.
“We strive to preserve local dairy culture and heritage,” Bona said. “We immediately went to Tulare to meet the mayor. We wanted to get to know him... We sent a message that we are committed to the community.”
With a large portfolio of brands, which includes President, Parmalat, Black Diamond, Galbani, Karoun, Green Mountain Creamery, Stonyfield Organic, Siggi’s and now Cracker Barrel, Breakstone and Knudsen Sour Cream and Cottage Cheese, Lactalis Heritage Dairy plans to bring local folks into the fold. Although Lactalis provides the impetus and common language, the company relies on their subsidiaries who have the local knowledge required to facilitate the implementation.
“Taking care of raw materials, saving resources, and being uncompromising about the quality of our products is part of our DNA,” said Axel Bigot, group director for sustainability at Lactalis Group. “However, we are not a uniform and homogeneous group and Lactalis Group is a network of individual dairy entities which respect local diversity, regions, cultures, traditions and expertise.”
Specifically, Bona said, the Tulare plant is very important. Although the acquisition of Kraft Heinz natural cheese business is only a few months old, Lactalis Heritage Dairy is already assessing potential investment projects to modernize and increase productivity at the plant. And with 175 acres owned by Lactalis Heritage Dairy, and only 40 acres currently developed, there is plenty of room to expand.
“If someone is looking for a career, Lactalis is a stable company which offers a solid career path, training and development,” Bona said. “The company will offer people different experiences, moving them around.
“Like many companies, we are challenged. When I asked Tulare Plant Manager, Brian Bettencourt, ‘What do you need?’ His answer was, ‘skilled labor.’ Currently we have 11 open positions in maintenance, production and engineering.”
But, what makes Lactalis extraordinary?
“It comes down to our passion and expertise in dairy,” Bona said.