Swiss milk processer Emmi is to acquire a 60 per cent stake in Dutch goat cheese maker Bettinehoeve, as it looks to build up its presence in the growth market of goat’s milk and organic products.
Swiss milk processer Emmi is to acquire a 60 per cent stake in Dutch goat cheese maker Bettinehoeve, as it looks to build up its presence in the growth market of goat’s milk and organic products.
The investment by Emmi, which will be rubber stamped later this month, comes amid an increasingly challenging European milk market.
Bettinehoeve’s management team will continue to manage the business, which will continue to act independently.
Urs Riedner, Emni Group chief executive, said: “Emmi now has a tried-and-tested network of firms successfully operating in the premium and specialises markets. We have shown our ability to do a particularly good job of integrating pioneering family-owned enterprises into the Emmi Group over the long term. Maintaining the culture specific to firm helps to further reinforce its success in the market.”
Bettinehoeve’s managing director Sybren Ewijk, said: “I am confident that Emmi is the right decision for Bettinehoeve. We have worked together with Emmi over the past three years in the joint venture that we share (Goat Milk Powder). Emmi is a reliable partner. In addition, they have encouraged us to continue to our successful path.”
The investment in Bettinehoeve is Emmi’s latest foray into goat’s milk products, which began in 2010 with its acquisition of US goat’s cheese producer Cypress Grove Chevre.
Bettinehoeve, specialises in and is the largest producer of fresh and ripened goat’s cheese in the Benelux countries and employs 115 staff at its two production locations.
Emmi has a focus on premier and niche markets and exports premium products made in Switzerland, such as Caffe Latte and Kaltbaach cheeses.
Through its overseas subsidiaries, Emmi also operated in nice markets like deserts, lactose-free dairy, speciality cheeses and goat’s milk products, which is increasingly based on nutritional benefits.
