NEW YORK — The Gellert Global Group, which owns specialty cheese subsidiary Atalanta Corp., has acquired Wisconsin-based Heartisan Foods, a manufacturer and distributor of branded and private label specialty and flavored cheese products, from Ronin Equity Partners and Landon Capital Partners. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

 “More broadly, we’re seeing a wave of consolidation deals in an exceptionally fragmented cheese industry,” said Jesse Yao, co-founder and managing partner at Ronin. “With demand at an apex for nutrient-rich dairy, we’ve seen heightened M&A interest for companies in the cheese category.”

Heartisan was formed under Ronin Equity Partners and Landon Capital Partners in June 2021 after the companies acquired and integrated Red Apple Cheese, Barron County Cheese and Cheese Brothers — all manufacturers of specialty cheese. Heartisan also owns Naturally Good Kosher cheese.

The Heartisan platform then acquired North Country Packaging in June 2023.

Heartisan sells cheese products, including bricks, rounds, slices and snack forms.

“To turn Heartisan into a cohesive powerhouse, our investment partners embedded in with us, overhauled the back office, and helped us create a well-oiled infrastructure from processing to sales,” said Lori Henningfield, chief commercial officer at Heartisan. “That gave us the base to expand everything from production to products rapidly.”

Prior to the sale of Heartisan Foods, the company said Cheese Brothers was “carved out from Heartisan for an undisclosed sum.”

The Gellert Group owns such brands as Atalanta Corp., a privately held food importer of specialty cheese; Camerican, a subsidiary that sources frozen and shelf-stable fruits, vegetables, seafood and other items; DeMedici, is part of Atalanta Corp. and is an importer of Badia a Coltibuono a Tuscan extra virgin olive oil for the retail channel; Finica Food Specialties Limited, an importer and distributor of specialty and gourmet items; Gellert Hospitality Group, GHG Holdings LLC and Dream Bons LLC operates 56 Five Guys and one Cinnabon bakery with stores in 10 states;  J.F. Braun, a supplier of shelled nuts, dried fruits and snack items; and Tripico Cheese Products, which offers retail, foodservice and industrial customers various imported and domestic cheese.

Landon Capital Partners has invested in such companies as 919 Marketing, Alcom, Blue Bell, Cinterra, Fusion 92, Icon EV among others.