Food giant Nestlé and French dairy company Lactalis are planning to establish a common business in the chilled dairy sector in Europe.


Subject to employee consultations and regulatory requirements, the proposal is to be implemented in the course of 2006, Nestlé said.


Assuming completion, Nestlé will hold 40% of the proposed venture’s shares while Lactalis will hold 60%. The proposed new organisation will be managed by a board composed of senior executives from both partners, with Lactalis in a majority.


The proposed venture will cover a wide range of chilled dairy products, such as yoghurts and desserts, with current and future products carrying the Nestlé corporate umbrella brand, along with other trade marks such as La Laitière, Sveltesse, Yoco, Fruttolo, Munch Bunch, Ski, B’a and Bridelice. Operations will cover EU countries, as well as Switzerland and Norway.


With sales of about EUR1.5bn (US$1.8bn) in its first year of operation and a strong portfolio of brands and customer relationships, the proposed venture will strengthen the competitive position of Nestlé’s European chilled dairy business, enabling it to make a significant contribution to Nestlé’s transformation into a nutrition, health and wellness company.

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“This venture with a respected and successful French company will create a strong, European champion in the yoghurt and chilled dessert markets, allowing us to compete profitably in a category of strategic importance for Nestlé,” said Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, chairman and CEO of Nestlé.


“I am delighted to be in discussion with Nestlé, a company with which we have a long-standing relationship,” said Emmanuel Besnier, chairman of the supervisory board of Groupe Lactalis. “Groupe Lactalis’ marketing and commercial skills, efficient manufacturing and supply chain expertise perfectly match the strengths of Nestlé’s brand portfolio and world-class research and development network.”