Partnership will introduce the first Amul branded fluid milk products in the United States market.

NOVI, Michigan – Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA), America’s tenth largest dairy cooperative, announced a partnership with Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Limited (GCMMF), the world’s largest dairy cooperative. This partnership between the two organizations will bring GCMMF’s Amul branded fluid milk products to millions of Americans.

Amul manufactures a wide range of branded milk and milk products in India and exports them to more than 50 other countries around the world, including the U.S. Owned by 3.6 million dairy farmers in India, the Amul brand is one of the world’s fastest growing dairy brands and India’s largest consumer products group, generating more than $10 billion annually.

“This partnership with Amul allows us to work with another cooperative to help them grow their brand in the United States, benefitting not only our own dairy farmer members, but those in India as well,” MMPA President & CEO Joe Diglio said. “MMPA’s strategic partnership with Amul will continue to enhance MMPA’s growing and diversified product mix while utilizing our state-of-the-art technology.”

MMPA’s caseless milk packaging design and proprietary fluid milk technology allow Amul to market fluid milk in specialty stores throughout the Midwest and East Coast with 6%, 4.5%, 3.25% and 2% fat levels under their brands Amul Gold, Amul Shakti, Amul Taaza, and Amul Slim n Trim milk, respectively. The collaboration brings together MMPA’s unique technology capabilities and high-quality member milk with the Amul brand’s rapidly growing and well-known, international reputation for premium dairy products.

Amul’s partnership with Michigan-based MMPA is a continuation of the brand’s ties to Michigan. Dr. Verghese Kurien, known as the Milkman of India and the founder chairman of GCMMF, is a Michigan State University alumnus and credited for the overall success of India’s dairy industry.

“We are very honored and pleased to enter into an association with MMPA, a very respected 108-year-old dairy cooperative. This association will ensure all our American and Indian consumers will be nourished and energized with the goodness of Amul Milk,” Amul Managing Director Dr. Jayen Mehta said. “This is the first time that Amul fresh milk is being launched anywhere outside India. It is our great pleasure to bring the taste of India to the world, in alignment with the vision of our Hon Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi to make Amul a global dairy brand.”

The Amul partnership was announced to internal stakeholders during the 108th MMPA Annual Meeting on March 20, 2024. Pictured (L-R): Brad Parks, MMPA Director of FP&A and Business Development; Sudeep Jain, MMPA Director of Quality; Doug Chapin, MMPA Board Chairman; Joe Diglio, MMPA President & CEO; Dr. Jayen Mehta, Amul Managing Director; Shashank Shah, Amul Sales Manager; Sheila Burkhardt, MMPA Chief Corporate Affairs Officer; Greg Soehnlen, MMPA Chief Operating and Business Development Officer.

About Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA)
The Michigan Milk Producers Association is a member-owned and operated milk marketing cooperative known for producing high-quality, award-winning dairy products. Established in 1916, MMPA is the 10th largest U.S. dairy farmer-owned cooperative serving members in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin. At MMPA, commitment to milk quality begins on the farm and extends through all four of their SQF version 9.0 certified processing facilities: a cheese plant in Indiana, a dairy product plant in Ohio and two dairy ingredient plants in Michigan.

About Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (Amul)
Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, (Amul) based in Anand, Gujarat is the world’s largest farmer-owned dairy cooperative. It is owned by 3.6 million dairy farmers and procures 30 million liters of milk every day and processes it across 100 dairy plants in India and markets more than 50 categories of products like Amul Milk, Amul Butter, Amul Cheese, Amul Ice Cream, among many others. Amul products are market leaders in India across all categories of dairy products in India. Amul is the most trusted food brand of India and is also known for its Amul Topical campaign, the longest running advertising campaign in the world.

 

NOVI, Mich.—The Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA), based in Novi, Michigan, today announced it will acquire Superior Dairy in Canton, Ohio, a subsidiary of LEL Operating Company.

Under the terms of the acquisition, all of LEL Operating Company’s subsidiaries, Superior Dairy, Inc., Creative Edge Design Group, Ltd., and LEL Logistics, Inc., will become wholly owned subsidiaries of MMPA effective December 31, 2021. Ultimately, the new organization will launch a multi-state dairy manufacturing and innovation campus with four facilities in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, employ a team of over 625 individuals, and service dairy farmers across the Great Lakes region.

Building on the strong partnership developed between the two organizations over the years, the acquisition will bring greater innovation, product diversity and efficiencies to the marketplace. With Superior Dairy under its umbrella, MMPA will be able to provide a greater focus on go-to market strategies more quickly than operating individually to meet the needs of customers and consumers while continuing to support farmers, employees and other stakeholders.

MMPA President & CEO Joe Diglio (left) with LEL Operating Company / Superior Dairy President & CEO Greg Soehnlen (right).

“MMPA’s relationship with Superior Dairy has accelerated over the last six years and we have mutually benefitted from our partnership. Bringing Superior Dairy into the MMPA family will enable us to better tap into their wealth of product development experience to bring value added processing capacity for our dairy farmer members,” said Joe Diglio, president and CEO of MMPA.

“Our partnership with MMPA and their members’ exceptional quality milk has been an integral part of our growth. By taking advantage of our combined manufacturing assets, we will continue our trajectory and the opportunities that this collaboration enables,” said Greg Soehnlen, President and CEO of Superior Dairy, Inc. and LEL Operating Company.

“The acquisition of Superior Dairy demonstrates how MMPA dairy farmer member-owners are committed to investing in innovation and technology for their future. This move ensures there is a reliable outlet for our farmers’ milk while securing their future within the dairy community,” said Doug Chapin, board chairman of MMPA and dairy farmer.

Both organizations have had long and proud histories of supplying quality milk and milk products to consumers and are strategically aligned on their vision for the future. MMPA is a 106-year-old dairy cooperative, while Superior Dairy was founded in 1922 and will soon celebrate the company’s 100th anniversary. To generate long-term success of both organizations, the agreement provides for the repurposing and reutilization of each organization’s resources and current manufacturing facilities to better serve MMPA and Superior Dairy’s needs more collaboratively.

The Superior Dairy facility is located in Canton, Ohio. Superior Dairy, along with Creative Edge Design Group, Ltd., and LEL Logistics, Inc. will become wholly owned subsidiaries of MMPA effective December 31, 2021.

About the Michigan Milk Producers Association

MMPA is a dairy farmer owned cooperative founded in 1916. MMPA serves dairy farmers in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin, handling approximately 5 billion pounds of milk annually. MMPA operates two SQF Level 3 certified manufacturing plants in Michigan and a cheese plant in Indiana. Products made at MMPA’s plants include cheese, ultra-filtered milk, butter, milk powder, cream and condensed skim milk.

About LEL Operating Company / Superior Dairy

LEL Operating Company is the parent holding company of the following three subsidiaries: Superior Dairy, Inc., Creative Edge Design Group, Ltd.  and LEL Logistics, Inc. Founded in 1922, Superior Dairy is best known for providing high quality fluid milk products, cottage cheese, sour cream, ice cream and chip dip. Since Superior Dairy private labels for many of our customers, millions of consumers enjoy our consistent and flavorful products, without necessarily knowing the Superior name. Creative Edge Design Group is the strategic think tank, research and development arm of LEL Operating Company.

Superior Dairy, which will be acquired by MMPA, is best known for producing high quality products, including fluid milk, at the Canton, Ohio facility.