Grupo LaLa S.A.B. de C.V., a producer and marketer of dairy products in Mexico and Latin America, has signed a strategic agreement with the Costa Rican company Florida Bebidas, S.A. for the production, distribution and sale of LaLa products in Costa Rica.
LaLa said the agreement will provide it with access to a platform to strengthen its regional presence. Additional synergies will include distribution capacity, through Florida’s logistics network to serve points of sale in the Costa Rican traditional trade channel; raw milk supply assurance, with the support of the Regional Farming Cooperative of Dairy Farmers (Coopeleche R.L.), which will enable LaLa to manufacture its products under high-quality standards; and production capacity, through the acquisition of a dairy production facility, located at San Ramón Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Founded in 1908, Florida Bebidas produces and markets food and beverages in Costa Rica, Central America and the United States. The company has real estate operations in Costa Rica and several investments in Central America, and it has a solid beverage portfolio.
Founded in 1976, Coopeleche R.L. is a regional farming cooperative with social purposes. Its associates are found at dairy areas such as San Ramón (where its headquarters is located), Zarcero, San Carlos, Guatuso, Miramar, Esparza, Guayabo de Bagaces and Tilarán, Costa Rica.
In late May, Grupo LaLa entered into an agreement to acquire certain U.S. branded business assets from Laguna Dairy, S. de R.L. de C.V. for $246 million in an all-cash transaction. The acquisition includes three production plants and five brands, and it is in line with Grupo LaLa’s strategy of expanding in value-added branded categories in high-growth markets in the Americas.
By Eric Schroeder
Source: Food Business News
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