Lactalis Canada, a subsidiary of Lactalis Group — the world’s leading dairy company, headquartered in Laval, France — has launched a plant-based brand called Enjoy!. Lactalis Canada is known for household names in dairy including Cracker Barrel, Black Diamond, Balderson, Astro, and Lactantia.
The brand is already on the Canadian market and has debuted with a line of high protein, unsweetened, plant-based beverages, featuring six SKUs: Unsweetened Oat, Unsweetened Oat Vanilla, Unsweetened Almond, Unsweetened Almond Vanilla, Unsweetened Hazelnut, and Unsweetened Hazelnut & Oat.
The brand’s new website states that the drinks are certified non-GMO, with paper-based packaging certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), and that the products offer 8 grams of pea protein per 250 mL.
ESG goals
With meat and dairy representing one of the biggest contributors to climate and environmental damage, the launch of a plant-based brand seemingly falls in line with the dairy giant’s ESG efforts.
“Our 2023 report highlights the tangible gains we have made in improving our performance towards our ESG goals. As we move forward, we are keen to work collaboratively and proactively with our customers, suppliers, dairy farmers, government, industry and community partners on important shared ESG objectives. We know that by working more closely together, we can make faster and more meaningful progress,” said Mark Taylor, president & CEO of Lactalis Canada, in the company’s 2023 ESG report.
Local manufacturing
A newly converted 33,150 sq. ft. production facility in Sudbury, Ontario is now fully operational as a dedicated plant-based manufacturing plant. Lactalis Canada states that it “looks forward to continuing to play a vital role in the region through its economic and social contribution”.
“We are delighted to make a splash with the launch of Enjoy! which only further complements Lactalis Canada’s wide-ranging portfolio of now 20 iconic consumer brands and expands our plant-based offering to Canadian consumers by leveraging our expertise in this dairy-free category,” said Mark Taylor.
“As nutritious, high protein, unsweetened beverages, Enjoy! responds to a growing consumer demand for plant-based options that taste great and have positive health impacts including non-GMO and gluten-free certification with no artificial colours, preservatives or flavours,” said Nathalie Cusson, GM of Lactalis Canada’s Fluid Division. “What sets Enjoy! apart is its uniquely high protein content which consumers are increasingly desiring in their daily diet,” she adds.
Enjoy! products are now available at most major retailers across Canada. To find out more visit www.enjoyplantfoods.ca
