MONTREAL — Saputo Inc. on Sept. 1 announced it has acquired the Carolina Aseptic and Carolina Dairy businesses formerly operated by AmeriQual Group Holdings, LLC, for $118 million. The businesses, which join Saputo’s Dairy Division (USA), operate out of two facilities in North Carolina and employ a total of approximately 230 people.

Carolina Aseptic develops, manufactures, packages and distributes aseptic shelf-stable food products and beverages out of a purpose-built facility in Troy, NC.

Carolina Dairy manufactures, packages, and distributes refrigerated yogurt in spouted pouches in Biscoe, NC.

Saputo said the acquisitions will better position the company to capture the growing demand for aseptic protein beverages and nutritional snacks.

“Complementing the organic growth initiatives outlined in our Global Strategic Plan (FY22-FY25), this investment aims to reinforce the strength of Saputo’s core business by increasing our capacity to manufacture and distribute products in the rapidly growing aseptic beverage and food categories, as well as the nutritional snacks space,” said Lino A. Saputo, chairman and chief executive officer of Saputo, Inc.

Saputo produces, markets and distributes a wide array of dairy products, including cheese, fluid milk, extended shelf-life milk and cream products, cultured products, and dairy ingredients. In the United States, Saputo ranks among the top three cheese producers and is one of the largest producers of extended shelf-life and cultured dairy products.