John B. Sanfilippo & Son Acquires Just the Cheese Snacking Brand

John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. has purchased substantially all of the assets of the Just the Cheese snacking brand business from Specialty Cheese Company, Inc. The acquisition was funded through the company’s existing bank credit facility.

Just the Cheese is one of the nation’s leading baked cheese snacking brands and offers 100 percent real cheese snack bars and cheese crisps. It primarily competes in the baked cheese snack category, which is currently estimated to be a $100 million category. Products can be found online and in a variety of retail outlets in flavors including Aged Cheddar and Grilled Cheese.

“The acquisition of Just the Cheese, which currently will not have a significant impact on our financial results, will provide us a product that expands our portfolio into new snacking categories. Additionally, the assets and capabilities acquired will be complimentary to our existing product portfolio and are expected to lead to exciting innovation opportunities” said Jeffery T. Sanfilippo, chief executive officer.

Based in Elgin, Ill, John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. is a processor, packager, marketer and distributor of nut and dried fruit-based products that are sold under the company’s Fisher , Orchard Valley Harvest, Squirrel Brand  and Southern Style Nuts brand names and under a variety of private brands.

For news of interest to the specialty food and snack industries subscribe to Gourmet News.