South Africa: Nestle to sell Cremora business to Lactalis

Nestle, the Swiss consumer goods giant, has announced plans to sell its Cremora business to the South African subsidiary of French dairy giant Lactalis, as part of a strategic realignment of its operations.

Cremora is a creamer brand produced in Babelegi and Potchefstroom, South Africa, as well as in Harare, Zimbabwe. Lactalis will acquire both South African sites, while production of Cremora at Harare will cease, with the plant shifting to focus on Nestle Everyday milk powder and Nestle Cerevita instant cereal instead.

Lactalis South Africa manufactures brands such as President, Parmalat, Melrose, Bonnita and Steri Stumpie. The company operates in the Western Cape, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal, with a workforce of 2,700.

Commenting on the move, Nestle’s head of external communications Mota Mota said: “We believe that CREMORA is in good hands with Lactalis SA – a leading food company known for its expertise and commitment to excellence. This transition is in the best interests of our business, employees, customers, partners, and consumers, ensuring that CREMORA continues to thrive and deliver quality products under new ownership”.

Lactalis South Africa general manager, Herman Janse van Rensburg added: “This move aligns with our strategy of innovation and diversification of our product offering to cater to local consumer preferences. Furthermore, we look forward to welcoming our new colleagues to the Lactalis SA family as we continue to build on the rich heritage of CREMORA together to ensure seamless continuity for customers and consumers”.

Source: Nestle