Agrifood: La Cité du Lait, a museum of dairy products in the birthplace of the world leader Lactalis

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© Sylvain Malmouche

La Cité du Lait is a museum dedicated to the milk industry. It belongs to the multinational dairy products group Lactalis which was created in Laval, Mayenne, Atlantic France, and which is #1 in the world in its sector.

In 1933, the company founded by André Besnier produced only 17 camemberts per day. Today, it has become a multinational established on all five continents. Lactalis is the world’s leading group for dairy products and the second largest French group in the food industry after Danone.

Dive into the history of dairy products

The Cité du Lait - Lactopôle museum created by Lactalis first plunges the visitors into the milk industry of the 1950’s with the reconstruction of a dairy products workshop. It then explains how traditional production methods have evolved over time, and presents the machines used to produce butter and camembert.

The museum also has a collection of objects used to transport milk and produce dairy products, and one floor is dedicated to the history of the Lactalis group. Last but not least, La Cité du Lait hosts a creamery/cheese dairy/grocery shop with more than 800 references of dairy products.

Activities for families and catering services for business events

During the summer, many activities are organised for families such as butter and cheese making workshops, a discovery of cheeses from around the world with a tasting, and an adventure game in the museum.

Lactopôle also offers tailor-made solutions to professionals. A fully equipped, 108-seater auditorium and modular meeting rooms are available, and gourmet catering can be provided for cheese and wine events, cheese buffets, cocktails parties, etc. 

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