Canton, Ohio-based LEL Operating Company, the parent company of Superior Dairy Inc., has submitted a $5.5 million bid on the now-shuttered Golden Guernsey Dairy Plant in Waukesha, according to company trustee Charlie Stanziale Jr.
Stanziale told WISN-Channel 12 News he filed an application in U.S. Bankruptcy Court on Friday to allow bidding to begin officially. Stanziale said LEL Operating Company is the first bidder and put down a $500,000 deposit on the plant.
Golden Guernsey LLC abruptly filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in a Delaware court and closed the plant in January.
OpenGate Capital LLC, a Los Angeles-based private investment and acquisition firm, announced the closure of Golden Guernsey, which was one of its portfolio companies.
The closure of the dairy left more than 100 people out of work.
OpenGate Capital acquired Golden Guernsey in September 2011 from Dean Foods after the U.S. Department of Justice required Dean Foods to sell the business in order to resolve antitrust concerns that Dean Foods’ share of the school milk supply business was too large.
The plant at 2101 Delafield St. in Waukesha was built in 1955.
WISN-Channel 12 is a media partner of BizTimes.
