Lactalis closing beverage plant in Sudbury

Jul 22, 2025
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content, Farms.com

The closure is effective Dec. 12, 2025

Lactalis is closing its plant-based beverage processing plant in Sudbury.

The company, which includes brands like Balderson, Astro, and Beatrice, reopened the plant in June 2024 after closing it in 2022 to convert it to a facility focusing on plant-based beverages like those in its Enjoy! brand.

The Ontario government supported that work with $1.4 million through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.

From 1962 until the renovations in 2022, the plant at 500 Barry Downe Road was a fully operational milk processing facility.

The closure will take effect in December.

“Lactalis Canada has made the difficult decision to close its plant-based operations in Sudbury, Ontario effective December 12, 2025, which will mark our full exit from the plant-based beverage category,” the company told Sudbury.com.

The company cited multiple reasons for taking this step.

These include consumer preference and economic challenges.

"This decision follows a shift in market dynamics and the challenges associated with the broader economic climate, all of which have led to a sustained decline in the plant-based beverage category’s performance,” Lactalis said in its statement. “Unfortunately, continuing operations is no longer financially viable and sustainable business for Lactalis Canada.”

It’s unclear how many jobs the closure will affect, but previously available information indicates the plant employed 25 people.

Video: A Farm Song (Busy) | Parody of A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey

Lyrics:

My days begin with workin’, Alarm’s at 5 o’clock,
I Fill 5 gallon buckets, The feeders and the troughs,
This five to nine ain’t workin’, why the heck do I work so hard?,
I can’t worry ‘bout health problems, I can sleep in when I’m gone,

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

I’ve been working pretty stressed but,
I ain’t changing for some cash,
Lord knows that I’m very blessed (More chores),
But I gotta say it’s hard,
Workin’ outside gettin’ charred,
Living out here on the farm, (more chores)

One, here comes the two to the three to the four,
Tell em’ ‘buy another cow, we need plenty more’,
Blue jeans are gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history
There’s another 20 chickens that still need feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Everybody on the farm getting’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,

Fun, here on ranch that’s what you can’t ignore,
Might be pretty hard but I love it to its core,
Flannel’s gettin’ dirty, what else could I ask for,
Oh my, more chores (Tell ‘em sing with me)

Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
There’s another flock of sheep that still needs feed,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Someone pour me up another shot of sweet tea,
They know me and working hard’s got a history,
Watching cattle in the dark, don’t miss me,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
(Yeeeeeehaw)
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
Everybody on the farm gettin’ busy,
It’s the best bro, go get yourself a farm