Emmi Strengthens its Position in Goat’s Milk Market
Swiss dairy group Emmi is acquiring a 60% stake in Dutch family business Bettinehoeve, which is currently the largest producer of fresh and ripened goat’s cheese in the Benelux countries.
Bettinehoeve currently employs some 115 staff at its two Dutch production locations and generated sales of around Eur40 million in 2015. Goat’s milk products are among the most attractive niches in the international milk industry.
The European milk market has become increasingly challenging in recent years. Emmi focuses on premium and niche markets and successfully exports premium products manufactured in Switzerland, such as Caffè Latte and Kaltbach cheeses. Through its foreign subsidiaries, Emmi is a leader in niche markets like desserts, lactose-free dairy, specialty cheese and goat’s milk products. The trend for goat’s milk products is based in particular on the nutritional benefits.
Emmi entered the international market for goat’s milk products in summer 2010 with its acquisition of US goat’s cheese producer Cypress Grove Chevre. It has gradually expanded its activities in this attractive segment in recent years: in 2013, through the acquisition of a 70 % stake in Dutch AVH dairy, which specialises in the export of goat’s and sheep’s milk products, and most recently in December 2015 with the purchase of the purchase of the US company Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery.
