Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) has purchased Guggisberg Deutsch Käse Haus in Middlebury, Indiana. The cheese plant acquisition diversifies MMPA’s dairy product portfolio, which currently includes butter, powder and other fluid milk products.

MMPA diversifies by purchasing a specialty cheese plant in Indiana

“We are eager to continue to grow our footprint in the Great Lakes region and utilize the expertise at Deutsch Käse Haus to gain greater diversity of our product portfolio,” says MMPA General Manager Joe Diglio. “MMPA members have a proven track record of producing high quality milk and to be able to align with an award-winning cheese plant located in close proximity to our Constantine plant provides great synergies in our milk marketing strategy.”

The Deutsch Käse Haus—translated from German as German Cheese House—was founded in 1979 to serve the needs of local Amish dairy farmers. Today, the plant processes around 400,000 pounds of milk per day and employs 55 people. MMPA plans to retain the current employee team following the ownership transition on Nov. 1. The plant is being purchased from the Guggisberg Cheese Company of Millersburg, Ohio.

“The Deutsch Käse Haus has a valuable and trusted legacy in Indiana. I am confident MMPA will carry on this legacy as we move forward, bringing mutual benefit to both Guggisberg Cheese Company and MMPA,” says Richard Guggisberg, owner of Guggisberg Cheese Company. “MMPA has a strong membership base in northern Indiana and the Deutsch Käse Haus will be able to continue producing high quality products under new ownership.”

The Deutsch Käse Haus produces award-winning cheese, internationally recognized at the World Dairy Expo, U.S. Cheese Makers Competition and World Cheese Makers Competition. The plant mainly produces Colby cheese, a softer, milder flavored cheddar cheese, in addition to Colby-jack, Monterey-jack, Cheddar, pepper-jack cheese and other flavors. 

Following the acquisition, MMPA intends to continue manufacturing the current types of cheeses made at the plant. The investment positions MMPA to further explore expansion opportunities at the Middlebury plant location in the future.