Dairygold Goes Eyes Big Cheese with French Buy

Irish dairy producer Dairygold Food Ingredients has bought French bespoke industrial processed cheese producer Solailoire for an undisclosed sum.

Solailoire’s cheeses, dried natural powder and flavours-are used in ready-made products.

Dairygold manager for France Peter Clifford said the producer, located in the ready-made-meal production centre of Nantes, France, is positioned to help it expand into an EU-wide cheese producer.

“The acquisition of Solailoire fits very well with Dairygold’s expansion plans as a one-stop cheese solutions provider across the EU,” Clifford said.

“In ingredient processed cheese and spray dried cheese powder, it adds two new product ranges and capabilities to Dairygold’s overall offering.

“The Solailoire acquisition also gives Dairygold a footprint in the important and dynamic French ready meals market.”

Dairgold will take advantage of Solailoire’s state-of-the-art factory built in 2006, while Solailoire will receive R&D capabilities from Dairygold as well as raw material access, an international sales team and more financial backing.