France-based agri-food investor Unigrains has invested in local dairy business Beillevaire Groupe.

Financial details were not disclosed.

Beillevaire said the investment will help it “accelerate its external growth strategy, further building on acquisitions completed over the past years”.

The cheese and dairy group also revealed it has acquired three cheese producers alongside the Unigrains investment: Le Curé Nantais in Pornic, La Fromagerie de la Houssaye in Saint-Pierre-en-Auge and La Fromagerie de Vinay in Isère.

Pascal Beillevaire, chairman of Beillevaire Groupe, said: “With the support of Unigrains, a specialised agri-food investor with a deep understanding of the dairy sector dynamics, our company is embarking on a new phase of strong growth and beginning its generational transmission.

“In parallel, the acquisition of these three cheese producers perfectly illustrates our ambition based on high-quality products and the integration of our value chain.”

Founded in 1980, Beillevaire Groupe produces a range of cheese, butter, desserts and dairy products. It operates eight manufacturing sites, including one for plant-based desserts, as well as five ripening cellars.

The group generates annual sales of circa €100m ($111m), according to a statement, and employs over 500 people.

Florence Alin and Julien Becquet, investors with Unigrains, said: “Driven by a strong entrepreneurial spirit and exemplary family cohesion, Beillevaire Group stands out for its excellent reputation and its strong band image.

“With its large product portfolio, including several Protected Designation of Origins, the group is perfectly positioned to strengthen its distribution network, including internationally, given the growing demand for high-end products of French gastronomy and savoir-faire.”

Unigrains manages €964m and is a partner to 80 companies. Last year, the firm invested in Italian seafood supplier Urbis Food through its local arm’s fund Fondo Agroalimentaire Italiano.

Unigrains Italia shortly before that became the largest investor in Vivaldi Group, a new business set up and comprising four separate bakery and ingredients companies – CPC Food, Eurodolce, Marper and Nuova-Nue Serpan.

The investor has also been eyeing more deals in Iberia after setting up an office in Madrid last year.