The Besnier family is one of France’s leading industrial families due to their ownership stake in Lactalis, the leading cheese producer in the world. Lactalis can trace its roots back to 1933 when dairy farmer Andre Besnier launched his small cheesemaking company. By 1948, Andre Besnier built the operation to where they employed 25 people and collected 10,000 litres of milk. Besnier had the vision and forethought to diversify by producing butter and cream in the early 1950s. Andre passed away in 1955 and was immediately succeeded by his son Michel. Michel had been working alongside his father beginning in 1946. He proved to have his father’s strong entrepreneurial instincts and doubled the family business’ revenue within two years. It was under Michel’s guidance that the company launched the Camembert line in 1968. That brand would go on to become one of the most sought-after cheese delicacies in the world. In 1999, Michel changed the company name from Bessier SA to its current Lactalis. Michel in 2000 at the age of 71 and was succeeded by his son and current CEO, Emmanuel Besnier. Emmanuel graduated from the ISG Business School in Paris and joined Lactalis as director of development in 1995. He and his wife Sandrine have three children.
