Irish dairy exporter Ornua has acquired US cheese business Whitehall Specialities for an undisclosed sum, increasing its footprint the US market.
According to industry sources, Whitehall had a €173 million turnover last year. Ornua described the acquisition as being a significant increase to its current position in the US cheese ingredients market.
“By bringing together two market leaders, in complementary parts of the ingredients sector, we are creating a powerful partnership that builds a strong foundation for a long-term, sustainable future,” Ornua CEO John Jordan said.
Ornua said the acquisition complements its US Ingredients division, Ornua Ingredients North America
The Kerrygold owner acquired Whitehall from private equity group Mason Wells. Whitehall Specialities is based in Wisconsin facilities across Minnesota and Pennsylvania, employing 450 people and provides cheese ingredient products to customers in the food manufacturing, retail and food service sectors.
Dairy cooperative Ornua, the State’s largest dairy exporter, aims to increase Kerrygold sales to €2 billion by 2025. Kerrygold became the first Irish food brand to exceed €1 billion in annual sales in 2018.
Despite the disruption of Covid, the threat of Brexit and US tarrifs, Ornua, based in Dublin, has annualised sales of over €2.3 billion and a global team of 2,400 employees.
LSL News.