Hochland buys Franklin in US

German cheesemaker Hochland has taken over the US fresh cheese producer Franklin Foods, which was founded in Vermont in 1899, but today is headquartered in Florida.

With sales of approximately $140 million (€130.1m) in 2016, Franklin Foods is the third largest fresh cheese producer in the US. The company operates two production sites in Vermont and Arizona with a total of around 200 employees. It is also represented in food service (processing industry, system gastronomy) as well as brands and trade mark articles in the food retail sector.

After the founding of its sales company Bergland Cheese USA in 2014, this purchase is a strategic step for Hochland to gain a foothold in this interesting market. “With its strong market presence, national sales structures and two modern plants, Franklin Foods Highland provides the ideal platform to successfully establish our own brands in the US,” comments Peter Stahl, CEO of Hochland.