Swiss dairy processing company Emmi is to purchase 60% stake in Dutch goat cheese maker Bettinehoeve in order to bolster its growth prospects in the fresh goat‘s milk and cheese segments.
Following the completion of transaction, Bettinehoeve will continue to function independently and Bettinehoeve managing director Sybren Ewijk will retain his position to manage the business.
Emmi expects to take over the Bettinehoeve shares this month. The financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.
The stake purchase comes amidst increasingly challenging times being witnessed in the European milk market.
Bettinehoeve's goat's milk products are distributed under its 'Bettine' brand. While, Bettinehoeve's main market is the Netherlands, its export markets include the UK, Germany, France, the Nordic countries and Belgium. The company collaborated with Emmi's subsidiary AVH dairy for international distribution.
Bettinehoeve managing director Sybren Ewijk said: "This partnership offers great synergies and growth opportunities, for example by increasing the distribution of the 'Bettine' ranges through the sales network Emmi has in Europe and overseas.
"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 on our successful path."
Emmi Group CEO Urs Riedener added: "Emmi now has a tried-and-tested network of firms successfully operating in the premium and specialities 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 a firm helps to further reinforce its success on the market."
Bettinehoeve was established by Johan Ewijk, the father of the current managing director, Sybren Ewijk, in 1982. The company manufactures fresh and ripened goat cheese and currently employs 115 people at its two production facilities in the Netherlands.
Since its inception, the company has now expanded its product range to include diverse range of goat cheese specialties, along with a number of organic products.
Emmi focuses on niche markets and exports products made in Switzerland such as Caffe Latte and Kaltbaach cheeses. It also specializes in other markets with offerings such as deserts, lactose-free dairy, speciality cheeses and goat milk products.
Image: Emmi to take stake in goat cheese maker. Photo: Courtesy of zole4/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
