Family-owned cheese products maker Sargento Foods recently inked a definitive agreement to purchase Bakery Cheese Factory Inc. and its string cheese production plant in St. Cloud, WI. The move will enable Sargento to meet rising demand for cheese-based snacks.

“Throughout our history we have always looked for new ways to build long-term stakeholder value. We’re excited to welcome Baker Cheese and its employees to the Sargento Family. This is a great opportunity, and will allow us to continue our industry-leading growth in the market place,” Louie Gentine, chief executive officer of Sargento, said in a release. “We take pride in our track record of successful innovation and look forward to unlocking new pathways for our portfolio, processes, and employees.”

Baker Cheese, established in 1916, produces mozzarella string cheese, which is sold across all 50 states. 250 workers are currently employed at the St. Cloud site.

“We believe Sargento has the right culture, capabilities, and commitment to innovation to grow our business for generations to come,” said Brian Baker, chief executive officer of Baker Cheese, in a statement. “Our award-winning string cheese and commitment to service and quality aligns with everything Sargento seeks to accomplish. We welcome this important step toward our future.”

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.