Besnier Changes Name, Completes Acquisition

Besnier USA (New York) today announced that it will change its name to Lactalis USA, effective May 1. In its parent company, Compagnie Laitiere Besnier, had changed its name to Groupe Lactalis.

"As our parent company becomes more focused outside of France, the new name is more in keeping with the increasing international presence of the organization," said Paul Bensabat, CEO, Lactalis USA. "The name Lactalis is easier to pronounce and is more descriptive of the foundation of our business, 'milk and all the milk'."

The domestic name change coincides with the March 31 finalization of Lactalis USA's purchase of Simplot Dairy Products, Inc., a cheese producer with operations in Idaho, Wisconsin and Washington. As part of the name change, Simplot Dairy Products will change its name to Sorrento Lactalis, Inc. Sorrento Lactalis will own and operate the Swiss Village cheese plant in Nampa, ID as well as plants in Arpin, WI, Lacy, WA and Salmon, ID.

"The Simplot acquisition is consistent with our strategy to expand our U.S. operations," Bensabat said. "It enables us to expand the variety of cheeses we offer by adding cheddar, jack, blue and cream cheese to our product line."

Lactalis USA operations will include Sorrento Cheese Company Inc., and Sorrento Lactalis, Inc., operating nine manufacturing facilities, with annual sales of over $800 million. Lactalis USA manufactures and markets a full line of cheeses with brands such as President, Sorrento, Precious, Oly, Olympia Naturals, Bella Gento, Swiss Village, Arpin, Salmon Valley and Mountain Farms.

Groupe Lactalis is a family-owned, privately held company established in 1933. Headquartered in Laval, France, Lactalis is the largest dairy company in the European Union, processing more than 14 billion pounds of milk each year.