Consolidation

Shareholder farmers in the former coop have received a cash payment of NZ$3.41 (US$2.24) per share, a 10-year guaranteed competitive milk payout, and guarantees all milk will be collected.

Done deal: Westland takeover by Yili completed

By Jim Cornall

China’s Yili Group has completed the purchase of all of the shares in New Zealand’s Westland Co-operative Dairy Company after final details of the sale were completed today.

The St. Albans board of directors will become part of DFA’s Northeast Area Council. Pic: Getty/Georgy Rozov / EyeEm

DFA closes merger with St. Albans Co-op

By Beth Newhart

The Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) started the process of merging with the St. Albans Cooperative Creamery in June; the deal closes this week.

“The details we announced today ensure farmers will not stand alone in facing unjustified retaliatory tariffs.

USDA releases new farm aid details

By Beth Newhart

A $16bn aid package for US farmers was first announced in May. Last week Secretary Sonny Perdue gave more details about how and when the funding will be divided up.

Grupo Lala has been setting its sights on more premium products, like Promised Land's high-protein and high-calcium milk.

Grupo Lala’s Q2 shows growth in US premium products

By Beth Newhart

Mexican dairy producer Grupo Lala's 2019 second quarter sales netted 14,467m pesos ($758m) in Mexico, a 3.9% increase from Q2 2018. The company cited “innovation and an improved mix” of its ‘value-added dairy’ offerings as reason for the jump.

The merger created 35 local jobs and the dairy will house nearly 4,500 cows.

Ohio dairy partnership will supply Danone

By Beth Newhart

McCarty Family Farms and VanTilburg Farms have teamed up to open a new dairy in Mercer County, Ohio, which will supply milk to Danone North America.

Ornua’s Nantwich cheese ingredients facility produces multiple grated and diced cheese formats, a range of sliced cheese and delicatessen blocks and is the home of the Spinneyfields foodservice cheese brand. Pic: Ornua

Ornua to close Whitchurch facility

By Jim Cornall

Following a major review of its European ingredients’ operations, Ornua has announced a proposal to close its Whitchurch site in the UK and transfer the production currently undertaken there to its Nantwich cheese ingredients facility.

Lactalis Group acquired Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy, the US yogurt business of Ehrmann AG.

Lactalis busy with North American acquisitions

By Jim Cornall

Following the purchase last week of Kraft Heinz natural cheese activities in Canada, French dairy company Lactalis has further dipped into the market by acquiring the US yogurt division of Ehrmann AG.

Hochdorf took over Bimbosan in 2018 as it focuses on its baby care division.

Hochdorf realigns business

By Jim Cornall

Following its Annual General Meeting on April 12, 2019, the Board of Directors of Swiss dairy company Hochdorf Holding Ltd, together with the senior management team, has reviewed the Group's direction and the positioning of its subsidiaries.

DFA chose its accelerator startups based on innovation potential and

DFA wraps up accelerator and merger deal

By Beth Newhart

In late June the Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) started a merger with St. Albans Cooperative Creamery. It also held the Demo Day for six agriculture and dairy startups in its third annual accelerator.

Westland chairman Pete Morrison said that while Westland will cease to be a cooperative, the board believed the proposed deal is the best outcome for shareholders.

Westland no longer a cooperative as shareholders support Yili deal

By Jim Cornall

Shareholders of New Zealand Westland Co-Operative Dairy Company Limited have overwhelmingly voted in favor of the Scheme of Arrangement under which shares in Westland are to be acquired by Jingang, a wholly owned subsidiary of Inner Mongolia Yili Industrial...

On April 15, 2019, Saputo Inc. completed its acquisition of Dairy Crest.

Dairy Crest becomes Saputo Dairy UK

By Jim Cornall

Following its acquisition by Canadian dairy company Saputo Inc., UK company Dairy Crest has changed its name to Saputo Dairy UK.

Saputo has made five acquisitions in the last 13 months, bumping up its revenue. Pic: Getty/haurashko_ksu

Saputo’s annual revenue jumps 17% after three acquisitions

By Beth Newhart

Saputo Inc. reported its latest fourth quarter and fiscal year results, ending March 31. It completed a series of acquisitions last year that contributed to higher revenue, while low cheese prices and struggles with the Canadian dollar hurt overall earnings.

Edge believes the aid will provide only partial and short-term relief for farmers. Pic: Getty/Annimei

USDA authorizes $16bn aid package for US farmers

By Beth Newhart

US President Donald Trump and US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced ‘several actions’ to help farmers in the wake of the recent trade war with China, including $16bn in aid.

Kroger intends to use the after-tax cash proceeds to reduce its debt. Pic: Getty/martinrlee

Kroger completes Turkey Hill sale

By Beth Newhart

After announcing that it may drop its flagship dairy brand last August, Kroger sold Turkey Hill to Peak Rock Capital earlier this year. The agreement was completed this week for $215m.

Project Darwin aims to reduce cost and improve margins.

Müller confirms UK dairies review

By Jim Cornall

Müller Milk & Ingredients (MMI), Britain’s largest producer of branded and private label fresh and flavored milk, cream, butter and dairy ingredients, is to review its network of dairies as part of its £100m ($129.4m) Project Darwin program, and enter...

Venchiaredo makes stracchino, a soft, creamy cow’s milk cheese. Pic: ©Getty Images/fiore26

Granarolo ups stake in Venchiaredo

By Jim Cornall

Italian dairy company Granarolo S.p.A. has taken control of dairy company Venchiaredo S.p.A., after upping the amount of shares in the company from 33.47%, acquired in 2017, to 57.47%.

BDS South Africa said it commends Brimstone for interacting with organizations and members of the public, and for exiting the takeover.

South African company confirms withdrawal from Clover Dairy deal

By Jim Cornall

The human rights and Palestine solidarity organization BDS South Africa said it welcomes the announcement by the South African firm, Brimstone Investment Corporation, to fully exit the Israeli take-over of South Africa’s largest dairy company, Clover...

The Kerrygold Butter is now the number two butter brand in the US, with 2.6m packets sold every week. Pic: Ornua

Ornua notches a €40m operating profit in 2018

By Beth Newhart

Ornua, producer of the Kerrygold brand, released its full-year 2018 results that showcased a strong performance in its key European and US markets. It also broke ground on a cheese facility in Spain and prepared for potential fallout from the Brexit deal....

 Leeb Biomilch focuses on dairy and fresh products (especially yogurt) from organic goat and organic sheep milk.

Emmi acquires majority stake in Leeb Biomilch

By Jim Cornall

Swiss dairy company Emmi has gradually been expanding its international goat’s milk network since 2010. It has now acquired a 66% stake in Austrian goat and sheep milk processor Leeb Biomilch GmbH.

DMK said it is opening up additional segments with this acquisition.

DMK Group acquires Alete

By Jim Cornall

German dairy cooperative Deutsches Milchkontor (DMK) is taking the next step in its realignment process. In order to further develop the baby food business sector, DMK has acquired the brands, as well as sales and distribution channels, of Alete GmbH...

Kroger has recently put new emphasis on its ecommerce platform by launching Kroger Ship last summer.

Peak Rock acquires Turkey Hill Dairy from Kroger

By Beth Newhart

Peak Rock Capital has signed an agreement to acquire the Turkey Hill Dairy business from The Kroger Co., known for ice cream, refrigerated drinks and other dairy products. It marks Peak Rock’s eighth current investment in the food and beverage industry.

The sale of Westland to Yili is subject to shareholder and High Court approval. Pictured: Westland's Rolleston plant.

Yili set to buy NZ’s Westland for $404m

By Jim Cornall

The board of New Zealand’s Westland Co-operative Dairy Company Limited has signed a conditional scheme implementation agreement to sell the West Coast dairy cooperative to Hongkong Jingang Trade Holding Co., Limited (Jingang), a wholly-owned subsidiary...

Dean Foods is looking into several options to position the brand for the long term, despite poor 2018 numbers.

Bernstein drops Dean Foods after poor 2018 performance

By Beth Newhart

After a disappointing 2018 for Dean Foods, it revealed last month that it was considering a sale. Investment management firm Bernstein has announced that it is “discontinuing coverage of Dean Foods (DF) due to the stock's diminished market cap and...

Dean Foods plans to invest in its core capabilities, technology, infrastructure, people and systems.

Sharp loss in profit forces Dean Foods to consider sale

By Beth Newhart

A disappointing fourth quarter for Dean Foods rounded out an under-performing 2018, causing the dairy giant to explore alternatives in its ‘business transformation.’ It is considering a joint venture, business combination or even a sale.

Glanbia has acquired Watson, a US non-dairy ingredient solutions business.

Glanbia finalizes acquisitions, wraps up 2018

By Beth Newhart

Glanbia plc released its 2018 financials this week, revealing growing profits on the back of a few high-profile acquisitions. The nutritional ingredients and dairy business is dipping into the non-dairy sector and reorganizing its board of directors in...

Arla Foods CEO Peder Tuborgh, Chairman Jan Toft Nørgaard and CFO Natalie Knight answer questions at the 2018 annual results press conference.

Arla pays out all 2018 profits to farmers

By Beth Newhart

In its 2018 wrap-up report, Arla Foods announced that it would pay out its full net profit for 2018 of €290m ($329m) to farmers. It also discussed the progress of in-house cost-savings program Calcium and pending sustainability efforts.

General Mills expects the plant closure to cost roughly $130m.

General Mills to shutter yogurt plant in California

By Beth Newhart

General Mills is focusing on ‘restructuring actions’ in its yogurt business and closing a facility in Carson, Calif. The company also reaffirmed its end-of-year financial targets at an investor conference in New York.

Overall US cheese production likely reached 13 billion pounds in 2018. Pic: ©GettyImages/ShotShare

US cheese surplus not an 'unusually enormous amount'

By Beth Newhart

Last month, the American Dairy Coalition (ADC) called attention to the record 1.4 billion pounds of surplus cheese currently in US cold storage. But it may not have a simple solution, or even be as big of a problem as the public thinks.

LDC's oilseeds asset in Bahía Blanca, Argentina. The company is leaving non-core areas to refocus on its core businesses. Pic: ©LDC

Louis Dreyfus Company ditches dairy

By Jim Cornall

Dutch merchants and processors of agricultural goods Louis Dreyfus Company B.V. (LDC) is dropping its dairy business by mid-2019.

Dairy equipment like this is available regularly at auctions, but not often in southern Florida. Pic: ©GettyImages/BrianAJackson

New Mill Capital hosts fluid milk jug plant auction in Florida

By Beth Newhart

Machinery from a high volume fluid milk jug plant in southern Florida is up for auction this week, including milk silos, homogenizers and processors. Auctioneers New Mill Capital will oversee the online sale, open to all global customers.