USA &#8211, Land O’Lakes and Bongrain of France are to combine their North American aseptic product activities in a move to strengthen their market position.

Subject to due diligence and regulatory review, the joint venture will combine the companies’ technology and expertise and generate the necessary capital to remain competitive. Bongrain will be the majority shareholder.

Bongrain is a $3.5 billion (4 billion euro) company which markets speciality cheeses and other dairy products to Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australia. Land O’ Lakes is a national, farmer-owned food and agricultural co-operative with sales approaching 4.78 billion euro. It markets a full line of dairy products in over 50 countries. Combined aseptic product sales for the two companies totalled 203 million euro in 1999.