France’s Lactalis has acquired Loire-based cheese maker the Fromagerie du Point de la Pierre from Triballat Rians, extending the company’s presence in the speciality cheese sector, just-food has learnt.
“Buying Fromagerie du Point de la Pierre demonstrates our strategy of extending our presence in the French specialties market alongside the development of international brands,” a Lactalis spokesman told just-food.
Fromagerie du Point de la Pierre employs 110 staff at two plants and produces around 2,000 tonnes of cheese annually.
Set up in 1913, it had an annual turnover of EUR19m (US$24.63m) and specialises in AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) label cheeses, Fourme d’Ambert and Fourme de Montbrison. Lactalis already produces Fourme d’Ambert from its plant in the Puy-de-Dôme.
The acquisition bolsters Lactalis’ strong position in this segment taking the number of AOC cheeses in its product range to 27.