Swiss dairy group Emmi has acquired a 70% stake in AVH Dairy Trade, the Netherlands-based producer of goat’s and sheep’s milk products, for an undisclosed fee.

Emmi said today (8 January) the deal, which cleared on 1 January, reinforces the firm’s position in what it described as a “flourishing niche market”. AVH Dairy Trade is one of the leading international traders in goat’s and sheep’s milk, with sales of EUR16.5m (US$21.6m) in 2012.

Emmi’s CEO, Urs Riedener, said: “We are pleased about the expansion of Emmi’s goat’s and sheep’s cheese business, an area where we are already active in Switzerland and the US. It will be an ideal complement to our product range in attractive markets.”

AVH Dairy Trade will continue to operate independently. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.