Ultima Foods
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Dairy products |
| Predecessor | Agropur and Agrifoods yogurt operations |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Headquarters | Granby , Canada |
| Products | Yogurt, fresh dairy items |
| Owner | Lactalis |
Number of employees | 660 (2017) |
| Website | ultimayog |
Ultima Foods Inc. is a Canadian company specializing in the production and marketing of yogurt and fresh dairy items. Established in 1993, with origins tracing back to 1971, it is currently owned by Lactalis. As of 2017, the firm employed approximately 660 individuals across Canada and generated revenues surpassing CA$300 million.
The company introduced the iögo brand to the Canadian market in August 2012 and also holds ownership of the Olympic Dairy brand. While Ultima Foods continues to produce Yoplait products domestically, it no longer manages their sales within Canada.
History
The roots of Ultima Foods date back to 1971 when Quebec’s Coopérative agricole de Granby (later renamed Agropur in 1979) obtained the Canadian rights to produce and distribute Yoplait products. In 1993, Agropur merged its yogurt operations with Agrifoods—a cooperative representing 2,500 dairy farmers from Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan—resulting in the creation of Ultima Foods.
In 2004, Ultima expanded by acquiring Olympic Dairy, a manufacturer known for its premium natural cultured dairy items, organic offerings, and soy-based products, boasting over 140 varieties in multiple formats.
On May 8, 2012, a restructuring agreement was reached between Ultima and Yoplait. Starting September 1, 2012, General Mills, which had been Yoplait’s long-term U.S. licensee and a half-owner of the global brand since 2011, assumed the role of Canadian licensee for Yoplait. Under this arrangement, Ultima retained manufacturing responsibilities at its Granby facility, while General Mills took charge of marketing and distribution.
Concurrently, Ultima launched its own yogurt line named iögo, highlighting its Canadian origin and production with formulations designed to suit local consumer preferences.
On August 31, 2017, Agropur acquired Agrifoods’ stake in Ultima Foods, becoming its sole proprietor.
Later, in December 2020, Agropur divested its Canadian yogurt business to the French multinational Lactalis.