In a continued effort to expand its international goat’s milk network, international dairy company Emmi has added two new companies to its repertoire. The company has acquired Jackson-Mitchell, Inc. and an 80 percent stake in Lácteos Caprinos.
Jackson Mitchell, Inc. (“Meyenberg”) is a supplier of goat’s milk and evaporated and powdered goat’s milk in the U.S. Meyenberg distributes its products nationwide, through national supermarket chains, online via Amazon, and through regional retailers and speciality businesses. Meyenberg also already works with Cypress Grove and Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery to bridge seasonal milk production.
“Goat’s milk is in high demand and short supply in the U.S., but it is also a very challenging product as a result of it’s highly seasonal nature,” Matthias Kunz, Executive Vice President Americas for the Emmi Group. “We hope that Meyenberg’s excellent relations with goat’s milk farmers in California, Idaho, Kansas, and Missouri will result in opportunities for both of our Californian goat’s milk processors, Cypress Grove and Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery, and that we will be able to even better meet the growing demand for these products as a result.”
Jackson Mitchell’s current CEO, Robert Jackson, will continue in his role during the transition period, assisting with the search for a suitable successor as a member of the Board of Directors. COO and Member of the Board Frank Fillman and CFO Dough Buehrle will also retain their roles.
Emmi will also be acquiring an 80 percent stake in Spanish company Lácteos Caprinos S.A. Based in Campillo de Arenas in southern Spain, the company employs around 30 staff and generates annual sales of around EUR 13 million.
The focus of Lácteos Caprinos is on the manufacture of semi-finished products (curd) for goat’s cheese manufacturers both in Spain and abroad. The stake in Lácteos Caprinos makes Emmi’s goat’s milk network stronger in terms of procurement. Lácteos Caprinos also manufactures goat’s milk cream cheese, which is sold through Spanish retailers under the Delicapra brand.
The residual 20 percent will remain with the current owners, Pedro Mantilla and Francisco Sainz. They will continue to work for the company in their current roles—Pedro Mantilla as Managing Director, and Francisco Sainz as Chief Operation Officer with a focus on production and milk procurement.
According to a press release, Emmi entered the goat’s milk product business in August 2010 when it acquired California-based Cypress Grove. The goat’s milk network now comprises several goat’s milk processors abroad; Cypress Grove, Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery, and Jackson Mitchell, Inc. in the U.S., Bettinehoeve, Goat Milk Powder, and AVH dairy in the Netherlands, and Lácteos Caprinos in Spain.
