Parmalat Canada Acquires Astro Yogurt

Parmalat Canada has signed an agreement to acquire Astro Dairy Products, one of Canada's largest manufacturers and marketers of yogurt and cultured dairy products.

Astro Dairy Products had sales in its latest fiscal year exceeding $60 million with a manufacturing plant in Toronto and distribution facilities in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver.

Parmalat markets its Beatrice brand of yogurt, sour creams and cottage cheese through its manufacturing plants in Niagara, Ontario and Lethbridge, Alberta. With the Astro purchase, Parmalat becomes one of the largest marketers of yogurt and cultured products in Canada.

Parmalat Canada is a major food processing company, focused on dairy and bakery products. Parmalat Canada employs 4,600 people and operates 33 manufacturing facilities in Canada and the United States.

Parmalat Canada is a subsidiary of Parmalat S.p.A., one of the world's leading food companies with headquarters in Parma, Italy. Parmalat S.p.A provides consumers with dairy, yogurt, cheese, bakery and fruit juice products under such recognized international brand names as Parmalat, Kir, Grisbi and Santal.