Golden Guernsey's Sale to IL Company Moving Forward

Golden Guernsey’s sale to Lifeway Foods for $7.365 million was approved Monday by a federal bankruptcy court judge.

The closing is to take place within 20 days of the parties receiving a receipt of a sale order from Judge Kevin Gross, who signed the order on Monday, court records show. 

Golden Guernsey shut down abruptly in January before the parent company, OpenGate Capital, filed for bankruptcy for the Waukesha dairy. Lifeway Foods won the bid to purchase the dairy in May.

The Morton Grove, IL, won the auction over Ohio company Superior Dairy LLC who had offered $5.5 million. Lifeway Foods makes kefir products.

The dairy processing facility left more than 100 employees wondering about their future.

·       Past Patch coverage of Golden Guernsey's closure

Lifeway Foods, producer of frozen kefir and probiotic cheese products, said the Waukesha plant might reopen this summer and employing as many people as possible, reported the Journal Sentinel in May.

The company also intends to keep the iconic giant cow on the property.

Retirement funds for laid-off employees were released after some said they had fallen behind on bills and were at risk of losing their homes.