The United States is Emmi’s largest foreign market. The majority of sales there are generated by the exports of Swiss cheese as well as locally produced cow’s and goat’s milk specialty cheeses. Cheese will continue to be Emmi’s primary focus in the US. However, with the stake of around 25% in the yogurt operations of siggi’s as well as the collaboration in the manufacturing of their yogurts, Emmi will be able to take part in the dynamic growth of the US yogurt market.
Based in New York siggi’s is an up-and-coming yogurt supplier which expects to generate sales of around $17m with its traditional Icelandic and Scandinavian-style yogurts in 2013.
In the next few years, Emmi’s strategy is to increase the share of sales attributable to its international business to 50% (currently around 43%). A significant portion of international sales is generated in the United States, the company’s largest foreign market. Traditionally, Emmi’s focus here has been on the cheese business; it has been present in the US market through exports of Swiss cheeses for decades. These activities have been strengthened in recent years through the acquisition of the cheese producers Roth Käse and Cypress Grove Chevre. The increase in the stake in siggi’s also gives Emmi a presence in the fast-growing, dynamic US yogurt market.
Founded in 2005, siggi’s supplies yogurt inspired by the traditional Icelandic dairy product ‘skyr’. The Icelandic-style yogurts have a creamy texture, are low in fat and sugar, and high in protein. Siggi’s products are available in premium organic and health-food stores in the US.
Matthias Kunz, head of international business at Emmi: “This stake gives Emmi an interesting involvement in an innovative and fast-growing company. In addition, Emmi and siggi’s have a common understanding of what makes a good dairy product that is clearly distinct from the competition.”
Source: Emmi AG
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