USA: Emmi acquires Cowgirl Creamery

Emmi, the Swiss dairy multinational, has announced the acquisition of artisan cheese company Cowgirl Creamery and the associated Tomales Bay Foods, based in Petaluma, California, USA.

Cowgirl Creamery’s product portfolio of traditionally produced specialties includes soft, semi-hard and aged artisan cheeses. All products included in the range are organic, with the milk used for processing said to be sourced exclusively from Marin and Sonoma counties in Northern California. In 2015, Tomales Bay Foods and Cowgirl Creamery generated combined annual sales of over $20 million and employed 95 people.

The firm said that the move formed part of its strategy for international growth, noting that companies in niche markets in countries where Emmi is already active were of particular interest.

Emmi CEO Urs Riedener added: “Tomales Bay Foods and Cowgirl Creamery are an excellent addition to our portfolio of sustainably produced premium speciality cheeses in the US. Together with Cypress Grove Chevre and Redwood Hill, the two companies will form a powerful network for extraordinary dairy products in California”.

The purchase price was not disclosed.

Source: Emmi