Sector News

Land O'Lakes acquires goat cheese maker

March 31, 2017
Consumer Packaged Goods

Land O’Lakes, Inc. has acquired Vermont Creamery, a Websterville, Vt.-based producer of fresh and aged goat cheese, crème fraiche and cultured butter. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“We purchased Vermont Creamery and welcome them to the Land O’Lakes family because we love their brand and would like to help bring it to even more people,” said Chris Policinski, president and chief executive officer of Land O’Lakes. “We share a value-added, branded approach to marketing our products, a meaningful respect for our customers and deeply rooted rural values.”

Founded in 1984 by Bob Reese and Allison Hooper, Vermont Creamery combines the European tradition of cheese making with Vermont’s terroir. The company supports a network of more than 20 family farms and was B Corp Certified in 2014.

Mr. Reese and Ms. Hooper will serve as advisers and brand ambassadors for Vermont Creamery, which will become an independently operated subsidiary of Land O’Lakes. The Hooper family will retain ownership of the Vermont Creamery farm in Websterville, which will continue to serve as a key supplier to the company.

“We have always taken seriously our commitment to our farmers, employees and Vermont’s working landscape — these values are at the core of our decision to sell the business,” Ms. Hooper said. “As we experience unprecedented growth, we need a partner who can bring the resources and expertise necessary to help us realize our vision and the potential of our business.”

Mr. Reese added, “After years of thoughtful planning and a rigorous selection process, we are confident that we have found the best steward of our business, values and people in Land O’Lakes. We are both respected dairy brands with deep connections to farmers and an unyielding commitment to quality and innovation. We look forward to this opportunity to tell our story more broadly and increase access to our high-quality dairy products.”

By Rebekah Schouten

Source: Food Business News

comments closed

Related News

November 9, 2024

KP Snacks adds UK’s Whole Earth Foods to portfolio

Consumer Packaged Goods

Whole Earth manufactures nut butters and soft drinks ranges and has experienced major growth since Ecotone acquired it in 2003 – it is now the number one peanut butter brand in the UK and operates in other key European markets including Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain and Italy.

November 9, 2024

The Coca-Cola Company restructures reporting lines for Costa and Innocent

Consumer Packaged Goods

The Coca-Cola Company has announced that its Costa Coffee and Innocent Drinks brands will transition to report directly to the company’s Europe operating unit, effective January 1 2025. This reorganisation is part of a broader initiative to simplify the company’s reporting structure without significant employment changes.

November 9, 2024

Kerry Group acquires LactoSens technology to complement lactase enzyme portfolio

Consumer Packaged Goods

Kerry will implement LactoSens in addition to its ingredient solutions to enable a more integrated offering for food manufacturers. The technology helps these companies meet stringent regulatory requirements while improving process efficiency through real-time analysis.

How can we help you?

We're easy to reach