Alto Dairy Cooperative

Former dairy cooperative in Waupun, Wisconsin, US

Alto Dairy Cooperative

Company type| Subsidiary
Industry| Food
Founded| 1894 in Waupun, Wisconsin

Number of locations

| 2[1]
Products| Cheese, cream, liquid veal food,[clarification needed] whey, & whey protein concentrate
Parent| Saputo Inc. (2008–present)
Website| blackcreekcheese.com

Alto Dairy Cooperative (ADC) was a farmer-owned dairy cooperative in Waupun, Wisconsin. Founded in 1894, it is the oldest farmer-owned cooperative in the state of Wisconsin and boasts the nation's largest cheese producing plant east of the Mississippi River.[2] As of 2007, ADC had two cheese plants, one in Black Creek and one in Waupun, as well as 467 employees. The cooperative has a membership of about 500 farmers. In 2007, it handled $378 million in sales and had a net income of $19.6 million.[2]

## Sale of Alto Dairy

[edit]

In 2008, Alto Dairy Cooperative was sold to Saputo Inc., a Canadian cheese company. Alto Dairy still operates under its original name as a subsidiary. This sale was approved by 98% of the farmers who are active in the cooperative, allowing Saputo Cheese USA, Inc. to purchase the dairy cooperative for $160 million.[3]

## Notable achievements

[edit]

In 2007, ADC appeared on the History channel series Modern Marvels. The show interviewed employees and filmed the production process at the Black Creek cheese plant, chosen for its diverse cheese-making abilities.[4] Alto Dairy Colby-Jack cheese won an award at the World Championship Cheese and butter contest in 2006 and 2008. The prize-winning cheese was from the Black Creek cheese plant.[5]

## References

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1. ^ Savor Wisconsin, Alto Dairy Cooperative Archived October 12, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved February 15, 2013.
2. ^ a b JSOnline, Sale of Dairy Co-op Proposed Archived December 22, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved January 30, 2008
3. ^ USDA Rural Development, Alto Members Approve Sale to Saputo Cheese USA Archived January 29, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, retrieved February 16, 2013.
4. ^ World Dairy Diary. "Wisc. Cheese Featured on History Channel". Retrieved June 20, 2007.
5. ^ World Dairy Diary. "Colby-Jack Takes The Prize". Retrieved March 17, 2008.

* v
* t
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Saputo Inc.

Subsidiary companies|

* Alto Dairy Cooperative
* Cheer cheese
* Dairyland Canada
* King Island Dairy
* Mersey Valley Cheese
* Neilson Dairy
* Saputo Dairy UK
* Tasmanian Heritage

Former subsidiaries|

* Vachon Bakery
* Jos. Louis
* May West

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