Agropur’s board of directors announced that Trega Foods, the Canadian dairy cooperative’s US subsidiary, has acquired Green Meadows Foods, a new cheese factory in Hull IA.
The Iowa facility will be part of Trega Foods’ operations and will be overseen by its president, Doug Simon, who reports to Louis Lefebvre, Agropur Cheese and Functional Products Division president.
“Green Meadows Foods is a natural fit with the product line and culture of Trega Foods. Our passion for the cheese industry and the quality products we produce are assets to all our facilities,” said Simon.
One of the newest cheese plants in the United States, Green Meadows Foods officially launched operations November 3, 2008. The facility can process around 900 million pounds of milk a year. The plant produces 80 million pounds of cheese a year, including more than 10 varieties of American and Italian cheeses. About 50 million pounds of dried whey powders is extracted from the milk. The facility employs 85 people.
Trega Foods’ main products are cheddar, feta, mozzarella, provolone, and dairy ingredients. In its three facilities, 300 workers process about 1.3 billion pounds of milk annually.
Founded in 1938, Agropur generates US $2.8 billion in annualized sales. It has 3,600 shareholders and, with this latest acquisition, 5,000 employees distributed among 27 plants and distribution centers and offices across Canada, the United States, and Argentina. It processes more than 6 billion pounds of milk annually and offers brands as Schroeder, Quebon, Oka, Sealtest, Natrel, Island Farms, Yoplait, and La Lacteo.
