Big news for Canadian dairy processor
By Food in Canada staff
Business OperationsUltima Foods announces a custom agreement with Yoplait, a new launch and a major investment
Longueuil, Que. – A Canadian company has signed an agreement to manufacture products under the Yoplait brand in Canada.
Ultima Foods made the announcement that it has signed a custom processing agreement with Yoplait SAS/General Mills – the U.S. owners of the Yoplait brand – this week.
Ultima Foods also announced that it will launch its own brand of yogurt in Canada this year and that it has plans for a major investment in its Granby manufacturing plant.
Custom-processing agreement
The agreement Ultima signed with Yoplait SAS/General Mills will last six years and sets out that, in addition to manufacturing its own brand, Ultima Foods will manufacture Yoplait products in Canada.
As of September 2012, the company’s Granby plant will produce the same volume of Yoplait products that it currently manufactures.
New launch
With the support of its two shareholders, Agropur and Agrifoods – two of the largest dairy cooperatives in Canada whose membership includes 4,500 producers – Ultima Foods will launch its own new brand of yogurt and fresh dairy products in Canada starting in mid-August 2012.
This brand will be entirely created and manufactured in Canada and will include a full and original line of products and flavours geared to the palate of Canadian consumers.
“I am very proud to announce the arrival of our own brand on the market,” says Gerry Doutre, president and CEO of Ultima Foods. “The Canadian yogurt market is in full growth, and we will solidify our place in this market.”
Major investment
To adequately meet demand, Ultima Foods will invest $10 million in its Granby plant starting this fall to increase the facility’s production capacity by 15 million kg per year. The total capacity of the plant will reach 130 million kg. Further investment will be made depending on the company’s production needs.
Ultima Foods was established 40 years ago and is owned by Agropur and Agrifoods dairy cooperatives. The company has 750 employees across Canada. The company also owns and operates Olympic-brand dairy products.
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