Ornua buys US cheese solutions firm Whitehall Specialties

Irish dairy cooperative Ornua has acquired US cheese solutions business Whitehall Specialties from private equity firm Mason Wells. 

With locations in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, Whitehall Specialties provides food manufacturing and foodservice customers with functional cheese solutions, including imitation cheeses and cheese substitutes.

The acquisition is expected to strengthen the position of Ornua’s US ingredients division – Ornua Ingredients North America (OINA) – in the country’s cheese ingredients market.

OINA supplies customised functional cheese solutions to US food manufacturing and foodservice customers and the deal will expand Ornua’s production footprint and support its long-term growth strategy.

“Ornua Ingredients North America is a core part of the Ornua business, delivering strong growth over the last ten years,” said Ornua CEO, John Jordan.

“By bringing together two market leaders, in complementary parts of the ingredients sector, we are creating a powerful partnership that builds a strong foundation for a long-term, sustainable future.

“We warmly welcome the Whitehall Specialties team and are looking forward to partnering with them as we look to our next stage of growth.” 

The financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.