Canadian dairy producer Gay Lea Foods Co-operative has sold Notre Dame Creamery to local peer Fromagerie Chaeban.
The financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed.
Situated in Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba, the creamery has been operating at the same location since its inception in 1921. Known for producing “high quality, conventionally churned” butter in small batches, it has established a strong reputation.
Importantly, the creamery will continue its operations at the current location, with all seven employees retained in their roles, as stated by Gay Lea Foods.
This sale follows Gay Lea Foods’ acquisition of Notre Dame Creamery just three years ago during its 2022 purchase of Bothwell Cheese.
Furthermore, the transaction includes a “long-term supply agreement,” allowing Notre Dame Creamery to continue sourcing cream from Bothwell Cheese.
Notably, the ownership change will not disrupt the production of Notre Dame-branded butter and other products at the creamery.
Gay Lea Foods’ president and CEO, Suzanna Dalrymple, remarked: “The facility in Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes will become a key manufacturing site for Joseph Chaeban’s operations, with plans to invest and transform the business for the betterment of Manitoba’s dairy industry.”
She continued, “For Gay Lea Foods, this sale was an opportunity to transition ownership of a historic Manitoba company to an exceptional new owner, allowing our co-operative to focus its efforts on growing the award-winning Bothwell Cheese brand nationally.”
Fromagerie Chaeban, helmed by dairy scientist and cheesemaker Joseph Chaeban, also operates Winnipeg-based Chaeban Ice Cream and Chaeban Artisan cheese shop.
Chaeban stated that the Notre Dame Creamery acquisition will aid in “expanding and growing our family-run business.”
Gay Lea’s divestment of Notre Dame Creamery coincides with a series of recent asset sales.
In March, it sold Hewitt’s Dairy in Hagersville, Ontario, to Dairy Fountain, with operations continuing at both the plant and its associated Dairy Bar.
Last July, the co-operative entered a letter of intent to sell Thornloe Cheese to Triple “A” Cheese.
To note, Gay Lea Foods acquired Thornloe Cheese from food manufacturer EastGen in 2019.
