Dairiconcepts acquires US cheese business

DairiConcepts, a joint venture between Fonterra and Dairy Farmers of America, has acquired the US hard Italian cheese business of Swiss Valley Farms (SVF).

The business, previously owned by SVF’s wholly owned affiliate Rochester Cheese, produces private label fresh grated hard Italian cheeses and private label dry hard grated Italian cheeses for retail, foodservice and industrial customers.

The acquisition includes Rochester’s plant at Dalbo, Minnesota.

Ownership of a second plant at Spring Valley, Minnesota will remain with Rochester and hard Italian cheese production there will be moved to Dalbo.

Fonterra MD, Global Ingredients and Foodservices Andrei Mikhalevsky said the acquisition would cement DairiConcepts’ position as a leading player in the US hard Italian cheese market.

DairiConcepts specializes in cost-effective, high quality cheese and dairy powders, cheese concentrates, functional dairy replacement systems and hard Italian cheeses.