Grupo Piracanjuba has acquired fellow Brazilian dairy business Natulact for an undisclosed sum.
Based in Nossa Senhora da Glória in Brazil’s north-eastern state of Sergipe, Natulact is located about 115km from the state capital Aracaju.
The acquisition gives Grupo Piracanjuba its first manufacturing site in the north-east of the country. It now has eight production facilities, located in central, southern and south-eastern Brazil.
Luiz Claudio Lorenzo, the president of Grupo Piracanjuba said: “It will be Grupo Piracanjuba’s first factory in the north-east, reinforcing the company’s expansion in the region, as we will become more competitive.”
In a statement, Grupo Piracanjuba cited strategic synergies and Natulact’s location within the Northeast dairy basin as factors in the decision.
Natulact’s portfolio includes mozzarella, minas frescal cheese, butter and powdered whey.
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By GlobalDataGrupo Piracanjuba intends to maintain Natulact’s cheese line while gradually expanding the portfolio and increasing production capacity.
The company’s broader range spans more than 200 products under the Piracanjuba, Emana, and LeitBom brands.
Initially, production will continue under the Natulact brand before moving to Piracanjuba branding over time.
“Immediately, production will start with the Natulact brand and gradually, the Piracanjuba brand will be applied,” explained Lorenzo.
The transaction is subject to approval by Brazil’s competition watchdog, the Administrative Council for Economic Defense.
Grupo Piracanjuba said it is aiming to retain all direct jobs generated by the Natulact factory, which numbers around 260 roles.
Last month, French dairy giant Lactalis announced plans for further investment into Brazil, designed to boost the production of cheese and butter in the state of Minas Gerais.
