Arla Foods, Viby, Denmark, and Foremost Farms USA, Baraboo, Wis., are in advanced discussions about forming a strategic partnership. According to Arla Foods, the vision of a potential partnership is to increase the value of whey through innovation by combining Foremost Farms’ high-quality whey with Arla Foods’ ingredient know-how and strong sales channels. The two companies recently signed a memorandum of understanding formalizing the possibility of a future partnership.

“As farmer-owned cooperatives, Arla Foods and Foremost Farms USA share many of the same values, and both parties see a high degree of compatibility on visions and ambitions within whey,” said Henrik Andersen, group vice president of Arla Foods Ingredients. “We are confident that Foremost Farms can be the right partner for us in our efforts to secure access to high-quality whey in the U.S. market.”

Michael Doyle, president and CEO of Foremost Farms, said his company is excited about working with Arla Foods.

“By working with Arla, we can leverage their global food supply connections and innovation expertise with Foremost Farms’ diverse plant network and access to high-quality member milk,” he said. “These factors combined will enable both companies to meet business objectives and provide whey solutions of the highest quality to the world.”