Emmi is increasing its stake in Emmi Ambrosi France, a packaged cheese joint venture in France, from 51% to 85%.
The business was founded in 2008 following a collaboration between Emmi and Italian cheese specialist Ambrosi, as the companies aimed to offer their customers a “comprehensive, high-quality range” of traditional Swiss and Italian cheeses and jointly drive forward their international growth.
It is responsible for the administrative and logistical handling of A-27’s dessert products in France and generates sales of around CHF 80 million ($80.4 million).
In 2007 Emmi bought a 25% stake in Ambrosi. The agreement was a move to strengthen both company’s offering of premium cheese products. The firms have continued to market their products independently in Italy.
Ambrosi produces, matures and markets mainly parmigiano reggiano and grana padano, as well as other cheeses such as mozzarella and gorgonzola.
The deal follows a spell of heightened activity by Emmi. In January it sold a 22% stake in yogurt brand Siggi’s, as it aims to focus its US business on milk and cheese products.
The Swiss dairy sought to broaden its international reach earlier in 2017 with the purchase of Brazilian producer Laticínios Porto Alegre.
And last month it increased its stake in the Netherlands’ AVH Dairy Trade amid a continuing focus on goat’s milk products.
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