03.01.09
Strengthening its presence in the market for probiotic dairy products, Lifeway Foods, Morton Grove, IL, has acquired its top competitor in the kefir market, Fresh Made Dairy. Fresh Made had 2008 total sales of approximately $10 million while Lifeway Foods had about $44.5 million, a 15% increase over 2007. Fresh Made brand kefir and other products will continue to be manufactured by Fresh Made, Inc.—as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lifeway—at Fresh Made’s existing 25,000-square-foot facility in Philadelphia, PA. Excluding several top executives, all Fresh Made employees will be retained. The total purchase price of this transaction is about $14 million for all of the stock of Fresh Made.