Grande Cheese completes acquisition of whey processing facility in Wisconsin

US-based cheese manufacturer Grande Cheese has completed the acquisition of a whey processing facility in Juda, Wisconsin, from ingredients producer PGP International for an undisclosed amount.

PGP’s whey processing plant is located adjacent to Grande Cheese’s facility in Juda.

With this acquisition, Grande will have a total of three whey processing plants and five cheese facilities throughout Wisconsin.

Grande stated that the acquisition will add significant capacity to its existing products as well as several new technologies to serve its customers.

The products manufactured at the new whey facility will be marketed under the Wisconsin Whey International brand.

Grande Cheese president and CEO Wayne Matzke said that the company has been consistently growing its cheese and whey business.

"Because we had already been supplying some of our whey to the PGP facility, this acquisition makes sense," Matzke added.

"It will also help support our future growth and diversification, as well as play a significant role in the stability of the Wisconsin dairy industry as this location receives whey from several other local cheese plants."

Grande noted that it will offer employment to PGPI’s Juda associates and continue to work with the existing suppliers and customers of the facility.

The company plans to make substantial investment in the facility in the coming years, including adding equipment and technology, as well as new product lines.

Headquartered in Woodland, California, PGP International is engaged in the manufacture of rice flour and speciality flour blends, and extruded ingredients.

Established in 1941, Grande is a manufacturer and marketer of fine Italian Cheese, whey isolates, whey proteins and lactose.