Michel Besnier | |
Birth Date: | 18 September 1928 |
Birth Place: | Laval, Mayenne |
Death Place: | Marbella, Spain |
Nationality: | French |
Spouse: | Christiane Besnier |
Parents: | André Besnier |
Children: | Emmanuel Besnier Jean-Michel Besnier Marie Besnier Beauvalot |
Michel Besnier (1928–2000) was a French heir and businessman. He served as the chief executive officer of the Besnier Group, later known as Lactalis.
Michel Besnier was born on 18 September 1928 in Laval, Mayenne.[1] His father, André Besnier, founded the Besnier Group, a cheese company, in 1933.[2] He received a Certificat d'études primaires.[3]
Besnier started his career at the family business alongside his father in 1946.[1] After his father died in 1955, he became its chief executive officer.[2]
He launched Président, the brand of camembert, in 1968.[3] He also acquired Lepetit, Lanquetot, Bridel, Lactel and Roquefort Société.[3] His success lay in his ability to predict the vast expansion of supermarkets.[3]
He changed the company name to Lactalis in 1999.[2]
He married Christiane Besnier.[3] They had two sons, Emmanuel and Jean-Michel, and a daughter, Marie.[2] [3] They owned a house in Marbella, Spain.[3]
He died on 11 June 2000 at his Marbella home.[2] [3] He was seventy-one years old.