USA – Bel Kaukauna, the American subsidiary of French dairy group Fromageries Bel, has acquired two spread brands from Lakeview Farms.

The brands, called Merkts and Owl’s Nest, have a combined turnover of around $10 million (11.4 million euro) and join Bel’s existing spreads under the Wispread and Kaukauna group brands.

The deal is the latest part of Bel’s plan to build a portfolio of local brands in the USA. It wants to use these brands to help develop its international Laughing Cow and Mini Babybel products. Bel claims that sales of these products are increasing.

The company also said that the acquisition of Merkts and Owl’s Nest would strengthen Bel’s commercial and marketing activities in the USA.