Ultima Foods
Canadian dairy manufacturer and marketer best known for yogurt and fresh dairy products, including the iögo and Olympic brands.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Ultima Foods Inc. is a Canadian dairy manufacturer and marketer focused on yogurt, cultured dairy, fresh dairy products, and dairy desserts. The company operates within the Canadian dairy sector and is associated principally with the iögo and Olympic brands. It also manufactures Yoplait products in Canada, although Yoplait products are marketed and sold in the country by General Mills rather than directly by Ultima Foods. The company was formed in 1993 when Agropur's yogurt manufacturing and marketing operations were combined with those of Agrifoods, a federal cooperative owned by dairy producers in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. Its corporate lineage therefore reaches back to 1971, when the Quebec-based Coopérative agricole de Granby obtained the Canadian licence to manufacture and market Yoplait products. The cooperative was renamed Agropur in 1979. The 1993 combination created a dedicated Canadian yogurt business with manufacturing and marketing capabilities spanning several regions of the country. A major expansion of the portfolio occurred in 2004, when Ultima Foods acquired Olympic Dairy. Olympic was known for premium natural cultured dairy products, organic offerings, and soy-based products, and had developed a broad range of products in different formats and flavours. The acquisition gave Ultima a stronger presence in premium and specialty cultured dairy while complementing its established Yoplait manufacturing activities. Ultima's relationship with Yoplait changed substantially in 2012. General Mills, which had long been Yoplait's United States licensee and had become a 50 percent shareholder in the international Yoplait brand in 2011, assumed the Canadian Yoplait licence effective September 1, 2012. Ultima retained manufacturing responsibility for Yoplait-branded products at its Granby, Quebec facility, but no longer marketed or sold those products directly. This restructuring reduced Ultima's direct dependence on an externally controlled international brand and prompted the company to launch its own national consumer brand. In mid-August 2012, Ultima introduced iögo, a Canadian yogurt and fresh dairy line pronounced “yo-go.” The company described the range as created and manufactured in Canada, with products and flavours developed for Canadian consumers. The launch positioned Ultima as a brand owner and marketer in addition to being a contract or licensed-product manufacturer. iögo became the company's most visible proprietary consumer brand, while Olympic continued to serve the premium natural, organic, and specialty cultured dairy segments. Ownership changed again in 2017. Agropur and Agrifoods announced an agreement under which Agropur would become the sole owner of Ultima Foods, subject to regulatory approval. In December 2020, Agropur announced the sale of its Canadian yogurt activities to Lactalis, transferring Ultima Foods into the portfolio of the France-based global dairy group. The transaction connected the Canadian business to Lactalis's international dairy network while preserving Ultima's Canadian manufacturing and market focus. In 2017, the company was reported to have approximately 660 employees across Canada and annual sales exceeding CA$300 million. Ultima's current business identity is therefore that of a Canadian operating dairy company within Lactalis: it develops, manufactures, and markets selected yogurt and fresh dairy brands, maintains Canadian production capabilities, and continues to manufacture certain licensed products even when another company controls their consumer marketing and sales.
History
Ultima Foods' origins lie in the Canadian dairy cooperatives that managed Yoplait's early Canadian presence. In 1971, the Quebec-based Coopérative agricole de Granby obtained the Canadian licence to manufacture and market Yoplait products. The cooperative became known as Agropur in 1979, establishing a corporate lineage that predates the Ultima Foods name by more than two decades. In 1993, Agropur's yogurt manufacturing and marketing operations were combined with those of Agrifoods. Agrifoods was a federal cooperative owned by approximately 2,500 dairy producers in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. The combination created Ultima Foods, a business designed to consolidate yogurt manufacturing and marketing capabilities across major Canadian dairy-producing regions. Its early identity was closely tied to Yoplait, an internationally recognized yogurt brand distributed under licence in Canada. Ultima expanded its portfolio in 2004 through the acquisition of Olympic Dairy. Olympic specialized in premium natural cultured dairy products and also offered organic and soy products. The business had developed more than 140 products in multiple package sizes and flavours over a period of more than 30 years. The acquisition broadened Ultima's presence beyond licensed mainstream yogurt and strengthened its position in premium and specialty cultured dairy. The company's relationship with Yoplait was reorganized in 2012. General Mills, Yoplait's long-standing United States licensee and, from 2011, a 50 percent shareholder in the international Yoplait brand, assumed the Canadian licence on September 1, 2012. Ultima did not immediately cease its Yoplait manufacturing role: it continued producing Yoplait-branded products at its Granby, Quebec facility. However, General Mills became responsible for marketing and selling those products in Canada. The change separated production from consumer brand management and distribution. At the same time, Ultima developed a proprietary brand to replace the direct consumer-marketing role it had previously held for Yoplait. The result was iögo, launched in Canada in mid-August 2012. Pronounced “yo-go,” iögo was presented as a complete line of yogurt and fresh dairy products created and manufactured in Canada. Its flavours and formats were intended to reflect Canadian consumer preferences. The launch gave Ultima direct control over product positioning, marketing, and brand development in its home market. In 2017, Agropur and Agrifoods announced an agreement under which Agropur would become the sole owner of Ultima Foods, pending regulatory approval. This consolidated ownership of the business under Agropur, one of the major Canadian dairy cooperatives. Contemporary descriptions identified Ultima as a national employer with about 660 employees and annual sales above CA$300 million, although those figures relate specifically to the period reported and should not be treated as current results. A further ownership transition took place in 2020. In December of that year, Agropur announced the sale of its Canadian yogurt activities to Lactalis, the France-based dairy group. The transaction moved Ultima Foods into Lactalis's global corporate structure. The company continues to be understood as a Canadian dairy operating business, with manufacturing and brand activities centered on yogurt, cultured dairy, and related fresh products. Its portfolio includes iögo and Olympic, while its manufacturing role for Yoplait illustrates the distinction between production ownership and consumer brand control in the dairy industry.
- 2020
Canadian yogurt activities are sold to Lactalis
[1]Agropur announced the sale of its Canadian yogurt activities to Lactalis.
- 2017
Agropur agrees to acquire sole ownership
[1]Agropur and Agrifoods announced an agreement under which Agropur would become Ultima Foods' sole owner, subject to regulatory approval.
- 2012
Yoplait relationship is restructured
[1]General Mills became the Canadian Yoplait licensee, while Ultima retained manufacturing responsibilities for Yoplait products at Granby.
- 2012
iögo launches in Canada
[1]Ultima introduced iögo, its own Canadian yogurt and fresh dairy brand, in mid-August.
- 2004
Acquisition of Olympic Dairy
[1]Ultima Foods acquired Olympic Dairy, adding premium natural cultured dairy, organic, and soy products to its portfolio.
- 1993
Ultima Foods is formed
[1]Agropur's yogurt operations were combined with those of Agrifoods, creating Ultima Foods as a dedicated Canadian yogurt manufacturing and marketing business.
- 1979
Coopérative agricole de Granby adopts the Agropur name
[1]The cooperative was renamed Agropur, which later became a key owner and predecessor organization associated with Ultima Foods.
- 1971
Coopérative agricole de Granby obtains the Canadian Yoplait licence
[1]The Quebec cooperative obtained the licence to manufacture and market Yoplait products in Canada, establishing the business lineage that later led to Ultima Foods.
Products and positioning
A Canadian dairy manufacturer and brand operator spanning mainstream yogurt, premium cultured dairy, fresh dairy, organic and specialty products. Its portfolio combines proprietary brands such as iögo with the established Olympic brand and manufacturing activities for Yoplait.
Yogurt and fresh dairy · 2012
iögo
iögo is Ultima Foods' proprietary Canadian yogurt and fresh dairy brand, launched in 2012 after General Mills assumed the Canadian Yoplait licence. The range was developed and manufactured in Canada and introduced as a broad line of products and flavours intended for Canadian tastes. It represents Ultima's direct consumer-facing brand platform and is the company's most prominent proprietary yogurt offering.
Cultured dairy
Olympic
Olympic is a cultured dairy brand acquired by Ultima Foods in 2004. It is associated with premium natural cultured dairy products as well as organic and soy offerings. Before the acquisition, Olympic had developed a wide assortment of products in multiple sizes and flavours, giving Ultima a presence in premium and specialty segments beyond mainstream yogurt.
Licensed yogurt · 1971
Yoplait
Ultima Foods continues to manufacture Yoplait-branded products in Canada, including production at its Granby, Quebec facility. Since September 2012, however, General Mills has held the Canadian licence and has been responsible for marketing and selling the products. Yoplait is therefore a manufacturing relationship for Ultima rather than a directly marketed consumer brand under its control.
Marketing campaigns
- 2012iögo Canadian brand launch
Canada
Ultima launched iögo as a new proprietary yogurt and fresh dairy brand in Canada after the restructuring of its Yoplait relationship. The brand emphasized Canadian creation and manufacturing and offered a broad range of flavours and formats.
Outcome. The launch established iögo as Ultima's principal directly controlled consumer brand.
Brand decisions
2020
Sell Canadian yogurt activities to LactalisM&ABackground
Agropur reviewed its Canadian yogurt activities within its broader dairy portfolio.
Action taken
Agropur announced the sale of its Canadian yogurt activities to Lactalis.
Aftermath
Ultima Foods became part of Lactalis, an international dairy group headquartered in France.
2017
Consolidate ownership under AgropurM&ABackground
Ultima Foods was associated with Agropur and Agrifoods, and the two organizations announced an ownership agreement.
Action taken
Agropur agreed to become the sole owner of Ultima Foods, subject to regulatory approval.
Aftermath
The transaction consolidated Ultima Foods under Agropur before the later sale of the Canadian yogurt activities to Lactalis.
2012
Separate Yoplait manufacturing from Canadian marketing and salesStrategyBackground
General Mills assumed the Canadian Yoplait licence after having a long-standing relationship with the brand in the United States and becoming a major shareholder in the international Yoplait business.
Action taken
Ultima Foods continued manufacturing Yoplait products at its Granby plant, while General Mills took over Canadian marketing and sales.
Aftermath
Ultima responded by launching iögo as a proprietary Canadian brand that it could directly market and manage.
2012
Launch the iögo yogurt platformProduct launchBackground
The Yoplait restructuring created a need for Ultima Foods to build a directly controlled consumer brand in the Canadian yogurt market.
Action taken
Ultima introduced iögo in mid-August 2012 as a Canadian-created and Canadian-manufactured line of yogurt and fresh dairy products.
Aftermath
iögo became the company's principal proprietary consumer-facing brand.
Recent events
- 2020
Agropur announces sale of Canadian yogurt activities to Lactalis[1]
M&A
Agropur announced the sale of its yogurt activities in Canada to Lactalis, placing Ultima Foods within the France-based dairy group's portfolio.
- 2017
Agropur agrees to become sole owner of Ultima Foods[1]
M&A
Agropur and Agrifoods announced an agreement for Agropur to become Ultima Foods' sole owner, subject to regulatory approval.
- 2012
Ultima Foods and Yoplait restructure their Canadian relationship[1]
Other
General Mills assumed the Canadian Yoplait licence effective September 1, 2012. Ultima Foods continued manufacturing Yoplait products at its Granby, Quebec plant, while General Mills took responsibility for marketing and sales in Canada.
- 2012
Ultima Foods launches the iögo brand in Canada[1]
Product launch · Campaign
Ultima introduced iögo as its own Canadian yogurt and fresh dairy brand, with products and flavours developed and manufactured in Canada.
Sources2 sources
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