EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. — Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. announced that it acquired dairy food manufacturer SmithFoods, Inc. and its Orrville, Ohio, facilities.

The companies shared that the change went into effect on Oct. 1, and they were committed to “a seamless integration with no disruption in manufacturing and delivery services or other day-to-day operations.” Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.

A family-owned company that was established in 1909, SmithFoods produces milk, cultured products, ice cream, frozen desserts, mixes, custom blends and plant-based beverages.

Prairie Farms chief executive officer and executive vice president Matt McClelland said SmithFoods mirrors the company’s emphasis on high-quality dairy products.

“We are excited to welcome their employees to the Prairie Farms family of companies, and we look forward to serving SmithFoods’ loyal customers with the same exceptional local dairy products and community support they have come to expect," McClelland said. “As a farmer-owned cooperative, we're always open to exploring opportunities that will return value to our dairy farmers. The SmithFoods acquisition was an easy decision because the Orrville facilities complement our network of dairy plants and expand our Ohio footprint."

SmithFoods president and CEO Nate Schmid said by “passing the torch” to Prairie Farms, the company’s leaders are confident in the continued success of the Ohio-based dairy business.

“This represents a significant step in preserving and enhancing the legacies built by our customers, associates, producers and their families over four generations,” Schmid said. “We deeply appreciate everyone who has contributed to the success of SmithFoods.”

Per Prairie Farms, elements of its dairy cooperative include 600-plus dairy farm families, 7,000 associates, 47 manufacturing plants, 100-plus distribution facilities and annual sales of more than $4.69 billion.