TORONTO — Lactalis Canada’s president and CEO, Mark Taylor, has been inducted into the 2024 Grocery Business Hall of Fame in the Supplier category.
Launched in 2021, the Grocery Business Hall of Fame honours the achievements of current and past retailers and suppliers. Selected by the Grocery Business industry committee, inductees are recognized for their service to the industry and for their commitment to supporting the growth of the grocery sector in Canada.
Since joining Lactalis Canada as president and CEO in 2018, Taylor has been instrumental in driving the company’s growth and transformation, including leading the $1.62 billion acquisition of Kraft Heinz’s natural cheese business in Canada in 2019 — the biggest of its kind in Canadian dairy history. This transaction was followed by the integration of Ultima Foods Inc., the Kraft Heinz Grated cheese business in Canada in 2021 and Marie Morin Canada in 2023. Today, Lactalis Canada is the third-largest country by turnover within the Lactalis Group the third largest branded CPG manufacturer in Canada and has been named on Forbes’ list of Canada’s Best Employers.
Within the industry, Taylor has played an instrumental role in the advocacy and creation of a Grocery Code of Conduct for Canada. He sits on the Board of Directors of the Dairy Processors Association of Canada (DPAC), the Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada (FHCP) and the Grocery Foundation where he also chairs the Donations Committee. In 2023, he was appointed as cabinet member of the Feel Out Loud with Kids Help Phone campaign, the largest youth mental-health movement in Canada.
“I’m honoured to be inducted into the Grocery Business Hall of Fame Class of 2024 and be in the company of many of my esteemed industry peers,” says Taylor. “I share this special recognition with the entire Lactalis Canada team who continually strive for excellence across every facet of the business to ensure we deliver on our core purpose as leading dairy suppliers.”
