Sargento Foods has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Wisconsin-based Baker Cheese Factory. Founded in 1916, Baker Cheese is known for its high-quality mozzarella string cheese, which is sold in all 50 states. Its cheese production has grown substantially the past 20 years, making Baker Cheese one of the top string cheese companies in the U.S.
As privately held companies, Sargento and Baker will not disclose any financial details of the sale. Baker Cheese employs 250 people in St. Cloud, Wis., while Sargento has more than 2,000 employees at its four Wisconsin locations, as well as a remote sales team across the U.S. The acquisition will not displace any employees.
This acquisition will enable Sargento to better serve consumers by adding to the wide variety of sliced, shredded, and snack natural cheese products already offered by the company.
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As consumers seek more “on-the-go” options, cheese snacking has become the one of the fastest-growing sections of the cheese category. “Throughout our history, we have always looked for new ways to build long-term stakeholder value. We’re excited to welcome Baker Cheese and its employees to the Sargento Family. This is a great opportunity, and will allow us to continue our industry-leading growth in the marketplace,” says Louie Gentine, 3rd-generation CEO Sargento Foods. “We take pride in our track record of successful innovation and look forward to unlocking new pathways for our portfolio, processes, and employees.”
“We believe Sargento has the right culture, capabilities, and commitment to innovation to grow our business for generations to come,” says Brian Baker, 4th-generation CEO of Baker Cheese. “Our award-winning string cheese and commitment to service and quality align with everything Sargento seeks to accomplish. We welcome this important step toward our future.”
