How Fonterra’s $4.2b Mainland Lactalis sale took shape – an updated recap

Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell. (Image: Jacques Steenkamp/NZME)

Thu, 30 Oct 2025

Fonterra Co-operative Group shareholders will today make their final call on whether or not to sell the co-op’s consumer business, Mainland Group, to French dairy giant Lactalis for $4.2 billion.An online special meeting is scheduled for 10.30am today, 18 months after Fonterra floated the idea of offloading the business. All expectations are that the deal will get the backing of farmers.This recap was originally published on the day the deal was announced in August and has been updated to include key developments since then leading up to...

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