Dairy Company Invests in Flax-Milk Brand

Last week, dairy company Dean Foods made a minority stake investment for an undisclosed amount in flax-based milk and yogurt company Good Karma. Last year, Dean Foods’ substantially raised the price of its Dairy Pure brand milk products in order to remain profitable within the booming plant-based industry. This investment will take the dairy company into a different direction, according to CEO Ralph Scozzafava. “We love Good Karma as a fit for Dean Foods as we focus on diversification both within and beyond dairy,” Scozzafava said. “This opportunity with Good Karma is a way for us to build a platform for a larger plant-based portfolio.” The same “can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” approach has been executed recently by several dairy and meat companies, including Tyson (which invested in plant-based meat company Beyond Meat), Danone (which acquired plant-based milk brands So Delicious, Silk, Vega, and Alpro under parent company WhiteWave), and Maple Leaf Foods (which acquired soon-to-be vegan company Lightlife).