PLATTEVILLE — One cheesemaker with local operations purchased a brand from another local cheesemaker.
Emmi Roth acquired Athenos, which includes what an Emmi Roth news release calls the number one feta in the U.S., from the Lactalis Group.
Emmi Roth has plants in Platteville and Seymour, a distribution center in Monroe, and its corporate offices in Fitchburg. Lactalis has a plant in Belmont.
The purchase expands Emmi Roth’s business and product offerings in the specialty cheese industry, according to the news release. Athenos will be added to Emmi Roth’s locally produced and imported specialty cheeses in the U.S.
Kraft Heinz agreed to sell the Athenos business to a U.S. affiliate of Lactalis Group last fall as part of a natural cheese transaction previously announced by Kraft Heinz and the Lactalis Group. In what the news release called “fulfilment of conditions identified during the customary antitrust review by the U.S. regulatory of that transaction,” Lactalis agreed to sell the Athenos business on to Emmi Roth.
“This is an exciting day for Emmi Roth,” said Tim Omer, president and managing director of Emmi Roth. “We’re continuing to focus on the specialty cheese industry that we really care about. We take pride in providing the best specialty cheeses to our customers and consumers, and adding Athenos to our family will strengthen our product range and allow us to offer another great line of products.”
Athenos generated net sales of almost $90 million in 2020. Feta cheese sales are up 22 percent vs. last year, according to data from IRI, a market research company. Athenos will be using Emmi Roth’s retail and foodservice connections and marketing with digital marketing and social media.
Lactalis sells Président specialty cheeses and butters, Galbani Italian cheese, Parmalat shelf-stable milk, Karoun cheeses, Stonyfield Organic yogurts and beverages, Siggi’s and Green Mountain Creamery yogurt, and Black Diamond cheese.
“With the addition of this business, we are investing in our company’s long-term future, our business, people, and resources,” said Omer.
The transaction is subject to approval by federal regulators. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
