Agropur Cooperative, headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin (U.S. operations) and based in Saint-Hubert, Quebec (corporate HQ), is one of North America's largest dairy processing cooperatives. Founded in 1938, Agropur is owned by over 2,800 Canadian dairy farmers and operates across Canada and the United States with a network of advanced processing plants, innovation centers, and commercial distribution hubs. The company is globally recognized for its dairy ingredients, consumer products, and custom food solutions, built upon a model of cooperative sustainability, innovation, and quality. ## Core Business and Product Portfolio Agropur operates in both the B2B and B2C dairy product segments. Its core offerings include: - Fluid Dairy Products: - Milk (various fat levels) - Cream (light, whipping, heavy) - Cheese Products: - Mozzarella - Cheddar - Swiss - Monterey Jack - Specialty cheeses (e.g., Oka, Agropur Grand Cheddar) - Butter and Spreads: - Salted and unsalted butter - Flavored and whipped spreads - Frozen Desserts: - Ice cream and novelties under the Scotsburn and Island Farms brands - Whey and Dairy Protein Ingredients: - Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) - Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) - Milk Protein Concentrate (MPC) - Lactose and permeate - BiPro® branded high-performance protein Agropur also offers customized dairy solutions for industrial food manufacturers, including cheese blends, functional dairy systems, and nutritional formulations. ## Specialization and Unique Strengths - North American Leader in Cheese Production: One of the largest manufacturers of cheese in North America, with over 1 billion pounds of cheese produced annually. - Innovation-Oriented: Operates a dedicated Innovation Center in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, and a U.S.-based functional ingredient development hub in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. - Cooperative Ownership Model: Owned by over 2,800 dairy farmers, ensuring quality traceability and ethical sourcing. - Dairy Ingredient Expertise: Leading producer of whey-based proteins, including the internationally known BiPro® brand. - Private Label & Co-Manufacturing Leader: Strategic partner to global food brands and retailers across North America. ## Financials Agropur maintains robust financial performance supported by diversified operations: - Revenue (2023): CAD 8.0 billion (approx. USD 6 billion) - Dairy Processing Volume: Over 6.7 billion liters of milk processed annually - U.S. Operations: Contribute to approximately 50% of total revenue - Capital Investment: Over CAD 500 million invested in plant upgrades and expansions over the last five years ## U.S. Operations and Facilities Agropur has a major footprint in the United States, with facilities including: - Appleton, WI – U.S. headquarters and operations center - La Crosse, WI; Le Sueur, MN; Hull, IA; Lake Norden, SD – Major processing plants - Lake Norden Facility – One of the largest whey protein and cheese plants in North America (expanded in 2019 with a USD 250 million investment) U.S. facilities specialize in cheese manufacturing, dairy protein isolates, and custom ingredient solutions for the health and wellness sector. ## Target Market Agropur serves a broad spectrum of markets: - Retail Brands and Grocery Chains (via private label dairy and cheese) - Foodservice (cheese and cream solutions for restaurants and QSRs) - Industrial Food Manufacturers (dairy powders, protein systems, and functional blends) - Health and Sports Nutrition Brands (via BiPro® WPI and WPC) - Export Partners (dairy ingredients to more than 50 countries) ## Manufacturing Capabilities Agropur’s operational strength is backed by advanced infrastructure: - 35+ Manufacturing Plants across Canada and the U.S. - Dedicated R&D and pilot plants for prototyping and scale-up - State-of-the-art membrane filtration systems for whey processing - Aseptic and UHT capabilities for shelf-stable products - Fully integrated traceability systems ensuring farm-to-finish quality control Processing volumes: - Cheese: 1+ billion pounds/year - Whey Protein Isolate: 20,000+ tons/year - Milk and cream: 6.7+ billion liters/year ## Certifications and Compliance Agropur products meet strict national and international quality and food safety requirements: - SQF Level 3 Certified - FSSC 22000 - GMP / HACCP Compliance - USDA and CFIA-Approved Plants - Kosher and Halal Certifications - Non-GMO and Organic Product Lines available - GRAS and FDA compliance for dairy ingredients ## Customer Feedback Agropur’s reputation in B2B and branded markets is supported by global partners: > “Agropur has been a cornerstone in our ingredient supply chain—consistent quality, high-performance proteins, and responsive R&D.” > — VP Procurement, Global Beverage Brand > “Their private-label dairy program consistently exceeds expectations on sensory, shelf life, and logistics performance.” > — Category Manager, U.S. Grocery Retail Chain ## Achievements and Recognition - Top 20 Dairy Companies Worldwide (Rabobank Global Dairy Top 20 Ranking) - #1 Dairy Cooperative in Canada - Exporter to 50+ Countries, including the U.S., Japan, China, Brazil, and the Middle East - Award-Winning Cheeses, including World Cheese Awards, Canadian Cheese Grand Prix - Sustainable Dairy Partnership signatory and adopter of Dairy Farmers of Canada sustainability standards - Recipient of “Best Whey Protein” (BiPro®) in multiple sports nutrition publications Agropur Cooperative continues to lead with its vision of better dairy through science, sustainability, and cooperative ethics, positioning itself as a world-class supplier and innovator in dairy products and functional nutrition ingredients.
