FRANCE/GERMANY – France’s number one cheesemaker Bongrain will take over Unilever Deutschland’s leading soft cheeses Bresso and Milkana, pending government approval.

The deal also includes the Unilever cheese plant in Kempten, which employs 530 people, and some minor brands.

In this south Bavarian plant, the French firm will continue to produce other established Unilever products not included in the sale for an unspecified time.

These include the breakfast spread Brunch, the Du Darfst low-calorie spread and the cholesterol-reducing Becel.

Unilever Deutschland has, however, retained production of its best-selling cheese product Boursin.