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FoodBev Media
3 June 2008
Emmi sells stake in Baer AG to Lactalis
*Europe’s leading French cheese manufacturer Lactalis is to take over Switzerland’s Baer AG by 1 July 2008, subject to the agreement of the competition regulators. As a result, the Swiss based Emmi Group is selling the 35% stake in Baer that it has held since 2000 to the Lactalis Group. *
With this acquisition, Lactalis intends to develop its presence in the Swiss market with its international brands Président, Société and Galbani.
Baer was established in Küssnacht am Rigi by Edwin Baer in 1922 who took the risk of producing Swiss soft cheese in what was then a traditional hard cheese country. The company’s now famous Camembert Suisse was first produced in 1928.
Lactalis was established in Laval in France some five years later by André Besnier and its first product was also a Camembert cheese. The company’s now world famous Président Camembert was launched in 1968.
Emmi can trace its history back to 1907, with the Emmi brand itself created in 1947.