Platform for the food and beverage industry
This takeover fits in with Milcobel's strategy of becoming more customer-oriented and creating more added value in order to achieve a better milk price for its member dairy farmers. With this takeover, Milcobel strengthens its position as one of the leading companies worldwide regarding the production, processing and marketing of mozzarella.
Family company Kaasbrik, with about 30 employees, a volume of 10,500 tons of cheese and a turnover of 40 million euros, positioned itself over the past 30 years as a specialist with a strong market position in grating mozzarella. They also specialize in grating, packaging and marketing other hard and semi-hard cheeses (including cheddar, emmental, etc.) for the professional market (B-to-B). Thanks to their deep expertise in mozzarella and in customized & flexible solutions both in terms of cuts, packaging, formats, and price, they can offer various solutions according to customers' specifications. Milcobel is thus also further expanding its own brand portfolio with the cheese grating brands Kaasbrik and Pizzaiolo. Kaasbrik has customers in more than 20 countries in Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa.
Nils van Dam, CEO: "The acquisition of Kaasbrik allows us to further strengthen our position as a significant player on the global mozzarella market. There is a very high complementarity between Milcobel and Kaasbrik. Mozzarella is a difficult and qualitative product that requires the necessary expertise, and with Kaasbrik we have found the ideal partner in this. "
Johan De Turck, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kaasbrik, confirmed, "I am delighted that Kaasbrik will be owned by a strong Belgian company with the same values. Moreover, the anchoring in Limburg is assured. I am extremely proud of what we have achieved with our team in recent years. My daughter Karlien will remain CEO and will continue to lead the international growth trajectory."
Karlien De Turck continues, "In this way, we ensure the supply of very high-quality mozzarella, by one of the leading players in the mozzarella landscape. The family is convinced that together the 2 companies are much stronger and will accomplish great things."
Francis Relaes, Managing Director of Milcobel's Dairy Premium Ingredients business, is very pleased with this important development: "This acquisition fits perfectly with the strategic plans we laid down in our business unit last year. Through Kaasbrik we can further optimize our service level and customer orientation. There are interesting synergies in export markets. Among others also in Asia, where mozzarella consumption is on the rise and where Milcobel has already built up a strong market position in recent years."
Milcobel is taking over the entire staff of Kaasbrik and will retain Halen as a separate production unit. This operational activity will be integrated into the Dairy Premium Ingredients business.
