FrieslandCampina completes acquisition of US cheese producer Best Cheese

USA – The Dutch dairy cooperative, FrieslandCampina has announced that it has finalized the acquisition of the activities of Best Cheese Corporation USA., importer and vendor of specialty cheeses in the United States.

The acquisition of Best Cheese Corporation USA, New York based importer of Uniekaas Specialty Dutch Cheeses strengthens FrieslandCampina’s position on the American consumer market.

Best Cheese Corporation is an importer and vendor of fine quality specialty cheeses including well-known brands as Parrano, Robusto, Melkbus and different Gouda styles made from cow, goat or sheep milk.

As part of the transaction, Best Cheese will be fully integrated into the FrieslandCampina Consumer Dairy U.S.A.-business.

The company said former shareholders of Best Cheese, amongst other the Dutch Investment Company Antea, will not continue to be involved with the business.

“As a part of our transformative strategy, we continue to focus on delivering the best product to serve consumer’s needs.

The Americas is a strategic growth market for us. By acquiring Best Cheese and Jana Foods we will be able to grow our cheese business in the region further,” said Roel van Neerbos, President FrieslandCampina Consumer Dairy.

Speaking on the acquisition, Willem Jan Rote, former owner Best Cheese said: “The combination of Best Cheese’s USA position as an established specialty cheese vendor and the strength of FrieslandCampina as the leading supplier of Dutch Cheese, will take the success of our brands Parrano, Robusto and Melkbus to the next level.”

The transaction whose details were not disclosed comes after several expansions by the global dairy giant, with the recent acquisition of the Spanish cheese distributor Millan Vicente.

FrieslandCampina acquired US cheese distributor Jana Foods and expanded its cheese activities by taking over the activities of Best Cheese Holland, including its brands Parrano and Tjiezi.

With the expansions, the company is capitalizing on the growing need for dairy snacks in, among others, Europe, Asia and North America.