Lactalis to sell LaDorna organic milk in Romania

The company, owned until one year ago by Jean Valvis, exported most of its organic products to Greece, the main foreign destination, as well as Germany, the United Kingdom, and Spain. It currently offers organic butter, milk and Emmental cheese on the local market.

According to sources close to Lactalis, the French strategy for 2009 also includes the launch of other products on the local market. Contacted by Business Standard, Lactalis officials did not wish to comment on this information.

Organic LaDorna milk, produced and distributed by Dorna Lactate, is now available in local stores.

Since taking over LaDorna, Lactalis also moved to a new headquarters in the north of Bucharest, and as of September 2008 the Frenchman Wilfried Lebas took over as General Manager of the dairy producer.

LaDorna has a major organic farm network in the northern Suceava County, created in partnership with local farmers. The Competition Council approved the takeover by Europe’s largest dairy producer, Lactalis, of Dorna Lactate and Dorna SA, owned by Roadside Investments Limited, a business controlled by Valvis.

The domestic dairy market is estimated to be worth some €1 billion, with major players Danone, Friesland, Albalact, Tnuva and Covalact.