Lactalis Closes Acquisition of Kraft Heinz Natural Cheese Business
The acquisition includes a portfolio of iconic cheese brands such as Cracker Barrel®, Breakstone’s®, Knudsen® and Hoffman’s®
Lactalis Group, the world's leading dairy group, announced that its US affiliate has completed its previously announced acquisition of The Kraft Heinz Company’s natural, specialty and certain other cheese businesses in the United States, grated cheese business in Canada and entire international cheese business outside the United States and Canada. The companies entered into a definitive agreement on September 15, 2020.
With this acquisition, Lactalis acquires a portfolio of iconic cheese brands that includes Cracker Barrel®, Breakstone’s®, Knudsen®, Hoffman’s® and a perpetual license for the use of the Kraft® brand in natural, grated and international cheeses. Lactalis also acquires the Cheez Whiz® brand outside the United States, Canada, Mexico, Venezuela and the Philippines and a license for the use of the Velveeta® brand in natural and international cheeses. The acquisition includes approximately 750 employees and three production facilities located in Tulare, Calif., Walton, N.Y. and Wausau, Wisc.