NETHERLANDS – Ausnutria Dairy, a pediatric milk formula company, has agreed to purchase a 50% stake in Dutch cheese producer Amalthea, in a bid to make goat’s milk accessible to many consumers.

Amalthea produces semi-hard goat and organic cow cheese, while Ausnutria specializes in infant nutrition based on goat’s milk.

Amalthea and Ausnutria have been working together for some time in the field of the patented microfiltration technique for goat milk.

With this technique, called CleardMilk, harmful micro-organisms are removed from the goat’s milk and the milk is decomposed into separate components such as whey and cream.

The shared vision of the strongly growing and changing (inter)national dairy market is the reason for more intensive cooperation, involving a 50 percent participation in the Amalthea group by Ausnutria’s network.

In this way, the companies combine their innovative strength, and Amalthea gains access to a wider network, and together, they will increase their portfolio.

The transaction, which awaits approval by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM), will also lead to more stability, continuity, and greater innovative strength.

In addition, the joining of forces assures the infant formula company of very high-quality whey, an important ingredient for manufacturing its baby and infant nutrition products.

Bart van der Meer, CEO of Ausnutria Dairy Corporation, said by combining optimal milk production with joint knowledge, innovations, and products, Ausnutria can seize new opportunities and reach new markets together with Amalthea.

Joop de Groot, CEO of Amalthea, added: “The intensified collaboration is in line with our mission to get all the ‘miracles’ out of milk. This is a logical step that contributes to our striving for a complete valorization of the milk flows and to increase the flexibility in applications of the milk.

“The complete utilization of all milk components is also important for the realization of Amalthea’s sustainability agenda. At the same time, this collaboration offers our cooperative, suppliers, and customers further growth opportunities.”

Goat milk is a rich source of proteins, calories, fats, potassium, calcium, magnesium, vitamin A, and phosphorus.

 It is thicker, creamier, easy to digest, and possesses a lesser risk of allergies as it has a slightly lower lactose content. 

The global goat’s milk and associated products market is expected to have continuous growth driven by the growing lactose-intolerant population and increasing health and wellness trends.

The global goat milk and associate products market size is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6% from 2022 to 2030, according to Grand Review Research.

As both businesses try to tap into the growing market both in China and globally, Amalthea said it remains an active autonomous party in the marketing of semi-hard goat and organic cow cheese specialties, soft & white cheese, and CleardMilk.

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