Lactalis Group has entered into a definitive agreement for the acquisition by its U.S. affiliate of Kraft Heinz’s Natural, Grated, Cultured and Specialty cheese businesses in the U.S., Grated cheese business in Canada and entire International Cheese business outside North America. With this acquisition, Lactalis will acquire a portfolio of iconic, strongly-positioned brands that include Cracker Barrel, Breakstone’s, Knudsen, Polly-O, Athenos, Hoffman’s and, outside the U.S. and Canada only, Cheez Whiz. In addition, Kraft Heinz will partner with Lactalis on a perpetual license for Kraft in Natural, Grated and International cheeses and Velveeta in Natural and International cheeses.

Prairie Farms’ Caves of Faribault cheese has won the bronze award in the ‘Cheese – Cow Milk’ category as part of the Specialty Food Association’s (SFA) 2020 sofi Awards, a top honor in the $158 billion specialty food industry.

Dutch cheesemaker Vandersterre has recently partnered with Willicroft, a plant-based cheese company located in the Netherlands. Partnering with Willicroft will allow Vandersterre to explore the plant-based cheese market and the opportunities that come with it.

Ornua, Ireland’s largest premium dairy cooperative, has announced a major expansion of its Ornua Ingredients North America division with a $10 million investment upgrading its Hilbert, Wisconsin, cheese ingredients operation. Investment will add 30% production capacity to cheese making plant. With this major announcement, Ornua has now invested $23 million total in the Hilbert operation.

For their deli cup packaging sold in retail, both Treasure Cave and Frigo Cheese brands have removed the carton sleeves, moved to direct printing and added instructions on the cups to inform consumers on proper disposal. Both brands have national distribution of their deli cup SKU’s across the dairy and deli aisles. These changes result in a number of positive environmental impacts. For example, removal of the carton sleeves eliminates over 600,000 pounds of paper from the supply chain, reducing consumption of natural resources, pollution, GHG emissions and waste associated with their production, shipping and storage.

CHEVOO, makers of gourmet goat cheese in Sonoma County, California, introduces new spreadable goat cheese in four unique flavors. These cheeses aim to elevate your bagels, toast, veggies and sandwiches, or can just be spread on crackers for a tasty snack and an upgrade over regular cream cheese.

Foremost Farms USA will close its Chilton, Wisconsin, manufacturing facility in July 2020. Built in the 1940s, the Chilton plant makes Italian cheeses including Provolone which is sold into the foodservice market for sandwiches. The 53 employees who work at the location were informed of the company’s plans.

Sargento Foods Inc. is donating $2 million in cheese to Wisconsin’s anti-hunger leader, Hunger Task Force and its membership organization the Hunger Relief Federation of Wisconsin. To assist families outside Wisconsin, Sargento will provide donated cheese to Feeding America, the largest hunger relief organization in the U.S. The family-owned cheese company is providing relief by donating a total of 15.8 million cheese sticks which can feed more than 1.3 million households across the U.S.

Over the past two weeks, our mission to deliver dairy that tastes better because it’s made better has taken on new significance. As Essential Workers, we feel our mission is our responsibility – to craft our products with love and care, to stay positive and keep going in the face of new challenges, and to provide solace and comfort to you and your family through good food.