Across the dry plains of northern Senegal, among the Fulani herding communities of Richard-Toll, a dairy company called La Laiterie du Berger is proving that progress in Africa’s rural heartlands can begin with something as ordinary — and as essential — as milk.
Founded by Bagoré Bathily, a Senegalese veterinarian who returned from France determined to rebuild his country’s local dairy industry, the company has become a model of inclusive development. It is the first processor of fresh milk in Senegal, breaking a decades-long reliance on imported powdered milk and restoring value to local production.
Bathily’s vision was to create a business that blends innovation with heritage. By connecting smallholder herders to formal markets, he sought to turn a centuries-old way of life into a modern, dignified livelihood. Today, La Laiterie du Berger works directly with more than 850 Fulani herder families, purchasing their milk daily while providing veterinary support, training, and predictable income.
At the heart of its mission is Dolima, the company’s flagship brand, whose name in Wolof translates to “I want more.” Sold in markets and supermarkets across Senegal, Dolima has become a symbol of national pride — a product that embodies both aspiration and authenticity.
The company’s impact extends beyond economics. For many women in Fulani communities, milk has become a pathway to independence. Their role in collection and processing has evolved from subsistence labor into entrepreneurship. The income they earn now contributes directly to household stability, education for their children, and new opportunities that reach far beyond the farmstead.
The model that La Laiterie du Berger has built is one of shared prosperity. It formalizes the informal, linking local production to urban consumption while preserving the pastoral identity of the Fulani people. The approach demonstrates how African economies can thrive by elevating traditional knowledge through innovation rather than replacing it.
In 2020, the company became West Africa’s first Certified B Corporation, joining a global community of enterprises recognized for meeting rigorous standards of social impact, environmental stewardship, and transparency. This recognition affirmed its place as a pioneer in using business as a force for good — proof that profit and purpose can coexist.
What makes this story remarkable is its quiet defiance. It challenges long-standing narratives about rural Africa as a space of dependency and decline. By investing in the potential of herders and creating a local value chain that benefits both producers and consumers, La Laiterie du Berger is redefining what development looks like — not as aid, but as agency.
Across northern Senegal, the results are visible in everyday life: motorbikes purchased through milk earnings, new schools opening in villages, and communities that now see a future in staying rather than leaving. Each litre of milk collected represents more than nutrition; it is a measure of resilience, pride, and possibility.
La Laiterie du Berger is still expanding, but its influence already extends far beyond the dairy industry. It stands as a testament to the power of homegrown entrepreneurship to transform livelihoods, preserve culture, and inspire a new narrative — one where Africa’s progress flows from the people who know its land best.