Lakeland Dairies Enhances European Presence with Acquisition of De Brandt Dairy International
Source: The DairyNews
Lakeland Dairies, the Irish cross-border co-operative, has successfully completed its acquisition of De Brandt Dairy International, a Belgium-based business.
The strategic move is designed to bolster Lakeland's value-add capabilities and expand its footprint in the European market. The acquisition includes gaining De Brandt's customer base and European assets, positioning Lakeland to strengthen its operational capacity, particularly in the premium texturized butter market, crucial for baking and catering industries.
De Brandt Dairy International, a family-owned business with over a century of history, has been successfully serving its clientele until this acquisition. The transaction not only marks a significant step in Lakeland's growth strategy but also reflects a longstanding relationship between the two companies, with direct supply arrangements dating back decades.
Niall Matthews, Chairperson of Lakeland Dairies, applauded the acquisition as a "real show of strength" for the co-operative. He acknowledged the dedication of those involved in finalizing the deal and expressed anticipation for the integration of De Brandt's butterfat business into Lakeland Dairies, emphasizing the benefits for farmers, staff, customers, and the broader community.
Colin Kelly, Chief Executive of Lakeland, shared his excitement about the strategic move, stating, "This acquisition gives us a firm foothold in new markets in Europe and beyond, enabling us to further grow and develop our world-class product offering for our current long-term and future new customers." He emphasized the importance of strategically increasing added-value capabilities to ensure the co-op delivers robust returns to its farm families.
Lakeland Dairies has been on a growth trajectory, evident in its recent €15.3 million deal with Aldi in September, aiming to expand its reach. With 3,200 farm families supplying two billion liters of milk annually, Lakeland's acquisition of De Brandt Dairy International positions it for continued success and development in the evolving dairy industry.
De Brandt Dairy International, a family-owned business with over a century of history, has been successfully serving its clientele until this acquisition. The transaction not only marks a significant step in Lakeland's growth strategy but also reflects a longstanding relationship between the two companies, with direct supply arrangements dating back decades.
Niall Matthews, Chairperson of Lakeland Dairies, applauded the acquisition as a "real show of strength" for the co-operative. He acknowledged the dedication of those involved in finalizing the deal and expressed anticipation for the integration of De Brandt's butterfat business into Lakeland Dairies, emphasizing the benefits for farmers, staff, customers, and the broader community.
Colin Kelly, Chief Executive of Lakeland, shared his excitement about the strategic move, stating, "This acquisition gives us a firm foothold in new markets in Europe and beyond, enabling us to further grow and develop our world-class product offering for our current long-term and future new customers." He emphasized the importance of strategically increasing added-value capabilities to ensure the co-op delivers robust returns to its farm families.
Lakeland Dairies has been on a growth trajectory, evident in its recent €15.3 million deal with Aldi in September, aiming to expand its reach. With 3,200 farm families supplying two billion liters of milk annually, Lakeland's acquisition of De Brandt Dairy International positions it for continued success and development in the evolving dairy industry.
