30 September 2008 - Lactalis has announced it will close its Sainte-Marie-aux-Anglais (Calvados department) facility before the end of the year - the home of its popular Lepetit camembert cheese.
According to sources, the brand was recording declining sales since Lactalis changed its manufacturing process in early 2007 using slightly heated milk to fight listeria and ensure a healthier product. However, the new process differs from traditional manufacture with raw milk, which had been in place at the plant since 1890 and is believed to be the "real" way of making camembert cheese.
Lactalis also blames higher milk prices for the plant's closure.
The plant employs 93 people.