Canada-based dairy producer Gay Lea Foods Cooperative has inked an agreement with food manufacturer EastGen to acquire its Thornloe Cheese operations. 

The farmer-owned co-op located in Mississauga, Ontario, did not disclose the financial arrangements in a statement announcing the deal for Thornloe Cheese, which is headquartered in north-eastern Ontario and supplies retailers in the local area and Quebec. The business also has its own retail establishment. 

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Thornloe Cheese’ product portfolio includes a range of cheddars, speciality cheeses and curds, and also a grass-fed line. Gay Lea Foods offerings cover the dairy spectrum such as fresh milk, butter, cheese, cream and yogurt.

Gay Lea Foods chairman Rob Goodwill said: “Thornloe Cheese has a long and storied history in Northern Ontario and holds a special place in the hearts of Northern dairy farmers and consumers alike. We are pleased to keep Thornloe Cheese in the hands of a wholly Canadian dairy farmer-owned co-operative and help keep Northeastern Ontario’s rich agricultural legacy alive.”

Thornloe Cheese, which has been in business for more than 75 years and employs around 30 people, is credited with introducing the first butter and cheeses made with milk sourced from Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s verified grass-fed programme.
 

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact