The Emmi Group is acquiring Athenos, the number 1 in the US feta market, thereby strengthening the strategically most important pillar of speciality cheese in Emmi’s most important foreign market. In 2020, Athenos achieved sales of just under $90m and, with its feta range, complements the range of high-quality locally produced and imported speciality cheeses in Emmi’s North American business. With the acquisition of the Athenos business from the Lactalis Group, Emmi is expanding its position in the US market and also creating additional export opportunities for Swiss cheese thanks to its strengthened distribution power. The Athenos business is managed by Emmi Roth USA, which has been part of the Emmi Group since 2009. The closing of the transaction is subject to approval by the US competition authorities. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
Athenos was sold in autumn 2020 as part of Kraft Heinz’s “Natural Cheese” transaction to a US subsidiary of the Lactalis Group. In order to meet conditions imposed during the customary US antitrust review of this transaction, Lactalis Group has agreed to resell the Athenos business to Emmi.
