Lactalis Canada Opens New Milk Receiving at Its Winchester, Ontario Facility
This new investment increases its milk receiving capacity by 25% and positions Canada’s largest cheese plant for the future
Winchester, Ontario (April 9, 2026) – Earlier today, Lactalis Canada held a special event to mark the official opening of a new milk receiving bay at its Winchester, Ontario that will increase its milk receiving capacity by 25%.
“Lactalis Canada is proud to officially open a new state‑of‑the‑art milk receiving bay at our Winchester, Ontario cheese processing facility. This new facility will increase our ability to receive and process milk and in turn, increase production capacity and support the continued growth of the site,” said Mark Taylor, President & CEO, Lactalis Canada. “This latest infrastructure investment at over $16 million reinforces our Winchester plant’s position as the largest cheese manufacturing plant in Canada and its role as critical hub in the Canadian dairy landscape.”
Key Facility Features
- $16.4 million investment
- Ability to receive up to two million litres of milk per day – an increase of approximately 25%
- 180,000 ft² state-of-the-art facility
- Four truck bays and three independent milk receiving systems
- Enhanced ergonomics for milk drivers and receivers
In recent years, Lactalis Canada has made significant investments in its Winchester, Ontario facility to support operations. These include an award‑winning $18‑million wastewater treatment plant completed in 2020, the construction of a new private roadway in 2021 to divert milk truck traffic away from the town core, and major infrastructure upgrades such as a new refrigeration plant and boiler plant. In 2026 alone, the company is investing $42 million at the site, inclusive of the $16.4‑million new milk receiving bay.
About Lactalis Canada’s Winchester Facility
With a rich history dating back to the late 1800s, Lactalis Canada’s Winchester facility is the largest cheese plant in Canada by volume and proud home to a team of more than 300 employees dedicated to producing iconic brand products loved by Canadians across the country including Balderson, Black Diamond and Cracker Barrel cheese and Lactantia and President butter. Dedicated to craftsmanship and quality excellence, Lactalis Canada Winchester plays an essential role both in the community, region and broader Canadian food industry.
PHOTO 1 CAPTION: (L-R) Lactalis Canada celebrates official opening of Winchester, Ontario facility’s new milk receiving bay with special ribbon cutting event.
- Bruce Shurtletff, VP, Manufacturing, Cheese & Tablespreads, Lactalis Canada
- Matt Price, CHRO, Lactalis Canada
- Gilles Froment, SVP, Government & Industry Relations, Lactalis Canada
- Nolan Quinn, Member of Provincial Parliament for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry
- Mark Taylor, President & CEO of Lactalis Canada
- Tony Fraser, Mayor of the Township of North Dundas
- Chris Laskaris, Senior Logistics Specialist, Milk Allocation, Dairy Farmers of Ontario
- Vasile Raileanu, SVP Financial Control, Lactalis Canada
- Martin Santerre, SVP Manufacturing, Lactalis Canada
- Navid Kobari, Plant Director, Lactalis Canada Winchester
About Lactalis Canada Inc.
With over 140 years of brand heritage, Lactalis Canadais the Canadian dairy leader behind iconic brands Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond, P’titQuébec, Balderson, Cheestrings Ficello, aMOOza!, Astro, Khaas, siggi’s, IÖGO, IÖGOnanö, Olympic, Lactantia, Beatrice, Bfit, Enjoy!, Marie Morin Canada, Galbani, andPrésident. With more than 30 operating sites including 20 manufacturing facilitiesacross Canada, the company and its more than 4500 employees are committed toenriching and nurturing the lives of Canadians through sustainable and responsiblegrowth, high-quality products, contribution to communities and partnership withfarmers, customers, partners and suppliers. Lactalis Canada has been named onForbes’ 2025 Best Employers in Canada and one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employersfor 2025 and 2026. The company is part of Lactalis Group, the world’s leading dairycompany, headquartered in Laval, France. For more information, visit www.lactalis.ca
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Media Contacts:
Lactalis Canada Media Relations
