FITCHBURG, WIS. — Specialty cheese producer Emmi Roth said it plans to acquire Great Lakes Cheese’s blue cheese plant in Seymour, Wis. The company will assume ownership of the factory, related land, productions facility and equipment on Feb. 28.

With the purchase of the plant, Emmi Roth expects to expand blue cheese production and increase capabilities to develop new blue cheese products and packaging options. The company produces a range of blue cheeses, including Roth Buttermilk Blue, Roth Buttermilk Blue Affinée and Roth Moody Blue.

“We believe in the blue cheese category and see this as an opportunity to strengthen our position in the market,” said Tim Omer, president and managing director of Emmi Roth. “This acquisition gives us access to a talented group of cheesemakers and provides us with additional resources to expand our current production and develop new blue cheese products for our customers.”

The Great Lakes Cheese plant in Seymour employs 50 people. Emmi Roth will offer continued employment to all employees at the location. Emmi Roth, the U.S. subsidiary of Switzerland-based Emmi Group, operates three other facilities in Wisconsin, employing nearly 300 people in Monroe, Platteville and Fitchburg.

“We know Emmi Roth to be as passionate about cheese and as committed to its employees as we are,” said John Epprecht, vice-president of Great Lakes Cheese. “They are well positioned to guide Seymour’s business and its dedicated workforce into the next stage of growth.”