Industrias Lácteas Asturianas, S.A. (ILAS): An example of a discriminatory international strategy

Abstract

Industrias Lácteas Asturianas, S.A. (ILAS) is the leading Spanish multinational in the dairy sector. It has productive subsidiaries in Mexico, United States, France, Poland, and China. This paper summarizes the distinctive features of its growth path, especially highlighting those related to its international expansion. The analysis of its business model, aimed at extracting the full potential of its raw material, and its discriminatory internationalization strategy, shed new light about how, even in traditional sectors, firms can develop a sustainable growth strategy based on classic competitive advantages like operative efficiency, the early adoption of technologies and relational capital.