Heartisan Foods, a prominent manufacturer and online retailer of specialty and flavored cheese, has acquired North Country Packaging, based in Barron County, Wisconsin. This transformative deal will significantly expand Heartisan’s manufacturing capacity, bolstering the Cheese Brothers online brand and facilitating the introduction of new products in cheese spreads and cheese curds.
The acquisition is expected to triple Heartisan’s production capabilities. Kendall Goossen, co-founder of North Country, will assume a senior executive role at Heartisan, and he and his wife Maria will maintain a significant stake in the combined entity. The acquisition is being financed through a $10 million revolving credit line established for Heartisan by Ronin, the private equity firm that facilitated Heartisan’s formation in 2021.
This initial transaction involved the merger of Red Apple Cheese, Barron County Cheese, and Cheese Brothers. Heartisan, generating over $50 million in annual revenue, has experienced a consistent 30% growth in sales and profits since its inception.