Dairy processor news from Unilever, AMPI, Swiss Valley Farms
with purchase of Talenti
The multinational food giant Unilever purchased Talenti Gelato & Sorbetto in December. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The purchase represents additional investment in the frozen dessert category.
Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI), New Ulm, Minn., said in December its president and CEO Ed Welch resigned for personal reasons. Welch, who has been with the dairy marketing cooperative for 31 years, became CEO in 2008.
Jim Wegner said he will retire on Jan. 1, 2016 as president and CEO of the Northwest Dairy Association and its wholly owned subsidiary Darigold Inc., Seattle. Until that date, Wegner will act as executive vice president – special projects assisting the Interim President and CEO William Krippaehne.
Swiss Valley Farms, the dairy cooperative based in Davenport, Iowa, said it will invest $20.6 million to expand its cheese manufacturing facility in the northeast Iowa town of Luana. Groundbreaking is planned for this year with completion scheduled for late 2016. The plant makes Swiss, baby Swiss, Gouda, cream cheese, Neufchatel and sweet whey.
The United States Championship Cheese Contest has added six yogurt classes to its 2015 competition. The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, Madison, Wis., which sponsors the contest, invites processors to enter cultured dairy products in the following categories: low-fat unflavored cow’s milk yogurt; low-fat flavored cow’s milk yogurt; high-protein unflavored cow’s milk yogurt; high-protein flavored cow’s milk yogurt; yogurt, flavored and unflavored, all other milks; drinkable cultured products, all flavors, all milks. Entry forms and fees are due Feb. 18. Details are online at uschampioncheese.org.
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