Lactalis increases hold in Italy

FRANCE/ITALY – French dairy group Lactalis is to buy Italian cheese firm Invernizzi from Kraft Foods.

Invernizzi produces around 20,000 tonnes of cheese annually and is Italian market leader for Gorgonzola. If cleared by Italian competition authorities, the deal would include the Caravaggio factory near Milan, which processes 150 million litres of milk per year.

Lactalis already owns the Locatelli Italian firm. If the deal goes through, Invernizzi brands will be made and sold in parallel with its Locatelli and Pr