Grupo Lala has made significant advances in research and development (R&D) in milk and other dairy products.
Today, the company, which is the main Mexican firm in the dairy industry, has an area of research, innovation and development.
Its main activities and functions include:
- The development of new products, as well as the constant improvement and redesign of these.
- Sensory evaluation and evaluation with consumers.
- Analysis of information and technical documentation.
- Scientific and nutritional support.
- Coordination of research for the LALA Institute (entity created by Grupo Lala, in order to positively influence the nutrition and life of people, through providing nutritional and food guidance with emphasis on the benefits of dairy products on health, as well as as in healthy lifestyles).
- Developments at the laboratory level.
- Escalations in pilot plant and implementation of processes at an industrial level.
- Evaluation and approval of ingredients and suppliers.
- Development of special projects for new processes.
Grupo Lala
The R&D team is made up of engineers with backgrounds in engineering, food technology, food science, or biochemistry.
Many of the members of this team have graduate studies.
In addition, Grupo Lala has a continuous education and updating program for its employees in the technical and administrative areas.
To be efficient in the tests, escalations and evaluations that are carried out for the development of new products, reformulations and process improvements, the company has a pilot plant that replicates most of the processes and conditions of a production plant and allows to simulate the conditions that are presented there for the different products.
Likewise, its Research, Innovation and Development Center has a laboratory for physicochemical and microbiological analyzes and highly specialized equipment such as liquid and gas chromatographs, as well as for analyzes related to the study of the shelf life of its products.
The facilities are located in La Laguna, Mexico.
Innovations
In 2019, Grupo Lala accompanied its strategy with the relaunch of its entire line of fresh milk, seeking a differentiation that highlights its virtues compared to its competitors, the creation of a category of functional milk based on LALA 100, the launch of LALA Griego. and the redesign of the Nutrileche brand, which it has modernized under the Nutri seal.
With the aim of continuing to grow in the organic segment, the company ventured into the ultra-pasteurized milk shelf with the Lala Orgánica portfolio, together with the lactose-free option, and grew the LALA Vita portfolio with Amaranth, Rice and on-the-go formats.
In 2020, the company undertook multiple reformulations to enhance the nutritional profile of its products. This included adapting to the recent modification of the Labeling Standard. The goal was to offer stamp-free products in its line of flavored milks, such as Yomi, Café con Lala, Nutri, ChocoLALA, Yogurt Biobalance, and LALA Delicias. Additionally, improvements were made to Fermented Products, including Yomi and Art Jellies, among others.
The company also introduced new products to the market. This included the lactose-free LALA100, available in both pasteurized and UHT formats. Additionally, Lala Go yogurt and LALA Griego were launched, with LALA Griego offered in both Zero and traditional varieties. The traditional version is available in a larger size.