Press Release Source: WestFarm Foods
WestFarm Foods Finalizing Sale of Ice Cream Business To Humboldt Creamery Association
Monday November 1, 12:53 pm ET
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 1, 2004--Humboldt Creamery Association and WestFarm Foods (WFF) today announced that they have reached an agreement to sell WFF's ice cream business, including a license of the Darigold brand, to HCA. The transaction is scheduled to close on November 1.
"Customers will continue to enjoy the Darigold brand and quality," said WestFarm Foods CEO John Underwood. "There will be a smooth transition for our trade customers and consumers."
Humboldt Creamery will acquire WFF's Los Angeles plant, which is dedicated to producing ice cream. In addition, certain ice cream equipment from WFF's Seattle plant, which produces milk, juice and ice cream products, will be acquired. Humboldt Creamery intends to hire the Los Angeles employees.
"Due to the highly competitive nature of the ice cream business and increasing competition from national brands, WestFarm Foods made this decision in order to help consolidate its business and allow us to concentrate on our other product lines," Underwood continued.
West Farm Foods produces a full line of dairy-based and other products for the consumer, commodity and specialty markets. With facilities located in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and California, the company serves the entire Pacific Northwest market, including Alaska. WestFarm Foods is the processing arm of Northwest Dairy Association, a cooperative of about 700 dairy farmers in the Northwest, and is Washington's sixth largest privately held company. With annual dairy and related products sales exceeding $1.1 billion, WestFarm Foods is the eleventh largest dairy processing company in the nation.
Founded in 1929, Humboldt Creamery Association is a cooperative owned by 62 Northern California dairy families. The company produces a full line of dairy products, including fluid milk, powdered milk, ice cream and frozen novelties in both conventional and organic form.
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Contact:
WestFarm Foods
Lee Keller, 206-799-3805
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