May 1, 2025
NOTRE-DAME-DE-LOURDES, Manitoba – May 1, 2025 – Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Limited (“Gay Lea Foods”) today announced it has completed the sale of Notre Dame Creamery, based in Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba, to Fromagerie Chaeban Ltd.
Fromagerie Chaeban owner, Joseph Chaeban, a dairy scientist and celebrated Winnipeg-based cheesemaker, is also the president of Chaeban Ice Cream and the Chaeban Artisan cheese shop in Winnipeg.
Operating since 1921 at its original location, Notre Dame Creamery is known for producing high quality, conventionally churned butter in small batches. Gay Lea Foods acquired the Manitoba business as part of its purchase of Bothwell Cheese in 2022.
“This unique, community-focused transaction will secure a prosperous future for Notre Dame Creamery,” said Suzanna Dalrymple, president and CEO, Gay Lea Foods. “The facility in Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes will become a key manufacturing site for Joseph Chaeban’s operations, with plans to invest and transform the business for the betterment of Manitoba’s dairy industry.”
The Chaeban companies make all products with 100% Canadian milk ingredients – and are deeply committed to supporting local dairy farmers and creating products that not only taste great, but help build a stronger, more sustainable future for Canadian dairy.
Notre Dame Creamery will continue operating in Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, and all seven of the plant’s employees will continue in their current roles.
“Acquiring Notre Dame Creamery is an exciting opportunity to expand and grow our family-run business,” said Chaeban. “We are grateful to be part of this beautiful and historic community, and to further the mission of the founders, the Ghee family, who were deeply committed to building a prosperous dairy industry in Manitoba.”
Notre Dame Creamery will continue purchasing cream from Bothwell Cheese, as part of a long-term supply agreement agreed upon as part of this transaction, and will continue producing Notre Dame brand butter as well as additional products.
“For Gay Lea Foods, this sale was an opportunity to transition ownership of a historic Manitoba company to an exceptional new owner, allowing our co-operative to focus its efforts on growing the award-winning Bothwell Cheese brand nationally,” said Dalrymple.
About Gay Lea Foods
Gay Lea Foods is a leading Canadian dairy co-operative renowned for producing high-quality, nutritious dairy products that Canadian families love and trust. From farm to table, our 1,200 farmer members in Ontario and Manitoba, and more than 1,400 employees across four provinces, work together to nourish communities through award-winning brands including Gay Lea, Nordica, Salerno, Bothwell Cheese, and more. As part of its deeply rooted, balanced commitment to people, profit, and planet, Gay Lea Foods proudly invests one percent of pre-tax earnings back into Canadian communities through a national food security partnership with Second Harvest, and the community-building efforts of the Gay Lea Foundation. To learn more, visit gayleafoods.com.
About Chaeban Ice Cream and Chaeban Artisan
Chaeban Ice Cream is a specialty ice cream shop in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Created by Joseph Chaeban and his wife, Zainab Ali, the duo crafts unique, made-from-scratch flavours. Joseph learned about the dairy industry from his father as a second-generation dairy expert specializing in cheese and yogurt. In 2016, ice cream became his focus when Zainab needed to help her family escape the Syrian war. Joseph, and the South Osborne community, were able to get 13 of Zainab’s family members to safety in Winnipeg. As a thank you to the community, Chaeban Ice Cream was born, and will now live happily ever after at 390 Osborne Street! The shop is also home to Chaeban Artisan specialty cheeses, with every batch of cheese made with wholesome and local dairy sourced in Manitoba.
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Media Contacts:
Robin Redstone, Director, Communications
Gay Lea Foods
communications@gayleafoods.com
(204) 399-0403
Joseph Chaeban, Owner
Fromagerie Chaeban Ltd
jchaeban@chaebanicecream.com
(204) 881-6698
May 1, 2025
Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Limited (“Gay Lea Foods”) today announced it has completed the sale of Notre Dame Creamery, based in Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Manitoba, to Fromagerie Chaeban Ltd.
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WINNIPEG, Manitoba – April 11, 2025 – Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Limited (“Gay Lea Foods”) today announced plans to consolidate its Bothwell Cheese retail locations in Manitoba. Consumers can continue to find a variety of Bothwell’s award-winning, natural cheeses at the Bothwell Facto
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