US-based milk and whey protein ingredients maker Actus Nutrition has agreed to acquire a 99,000ft2 whey protein processing facility in Sparta, Wisconsin, from Foremost Farms USA.
Foremost Farms is a dairy cooperative representing dairy farmers across seven Midwest states, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
The acquisition supports Actus Nutrition’s expansion plans and strategy to continue producing whey protein at the site while investing in capacity and capability enhancements.
The Sparta facility will become the company’s seventh manufacturing site in Wisconsin, complementing its existing operations in California, Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, and Nebraska.
Actus Nutrition intends to extend employment offers to the current workforce and anticipates additional hiring to support future growth and operational needs.
Actus Nutrition CEO David Lenzmeier said: “We’ll be able to hit the ground running because we can plug the Sparta facility into our existing manufacturing network without a lot of changes.
“The facility will provide added capacity that will help us better meet the insatiable global demand for whey protein, while further positioning Actus to meet the needs of our existing customers.”
The acquisition strengthens the longstanding relationship between Actus Nutrition and Foremost Farms, extending their partnership in new directions.
It allows Foremost Farms to streamline its operations while maximising value for cooperative members through a long-term strategic partnership.
Actus Nutrition specialises in manufacturing nutritional ingredients for the health and wellness, performance nutrition, and functional food industries.
It offers high protein ingredients such as whey protein concentrates, isolates, and hydrolysates, as well as milk protein concentrates, isolates, and micellar casein.
Actus Nutrition is owned by Butterfly Equity, a private equity firm that focuses on the food sector using its sector expertise and a data-driven, operations-focused approach.
Foremost Farms USA board chairman Joel Eigenbrood said: “We are pleased that this sale will allow Foremost Farms to continue to focus on its core business.
“We appreciate the contributions made by our Sparta employees and we look forward to working with Actus to create more value for our patron farmers.”
