Irish dairy cooperative Ornua has completed the acquisition of U.S. cheese ingredients business Whitehall Specialties Inc., including its plant in Slippery Rock.

Ornua purchased Whitehall Specialties from Mason Wells, a private equity firm based in Milwaukee, for an undisclosed amount to complete Ornua's U.S. ingredients division, Ornua Ingredients North America (OINA). Ornua said the acquisition is central to its long-term growth strategy in the U.S. cheese ingredients market.

We're anticipating needing all staff who work at Whitehall Specialties' four plants, including the Slippery Rock facility, said Ornua spokesperson Laura Mays.

“The acquisition is more about expansion for facilities and production capabilities. No product offerings are being removed. None of the facilities are closing,” she said.

The names of the Slippery Rock plant and three other former Whitehall Specialties plants will be changed to Ornua Ingredients North America, she said.

Individually wrapped cheese slices and dried and grated cheese is produced at the Slippery Rock facility, which Whitehall Specialties acquired in 2016 from Castle Cheese after Mason Wells acquired Whitehall in 2012.

OINA is a leading provider of customized cheese products for U.S. food manufacturing and food service customers. The acquisition significantly increases OINA's position in the U.S. cheese ingredients market, expanding its production footprint to six facilities in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Pennsylvania. The transaction is central to Ornua's long-term sustainable growth strategy, unlocking significant advanced capacity and flexibility to support its existing and new customers' growth plans.

Outside of the cheese ingredients sector, Ornua's flagship brand is Kerrygold butter, the No. 2 butter brand in the United States. The company said it sells 10 million packs each week globally.

Headquartered in Dublin, Ornua is a dairy cooperative that sells dairy products on behalf of its members, Ireland's dairy processors and, in turn, Irish dairy farmers. It is Ireland's largest purchaser of Irish dairy products, exporting to 110 countries worldwide.