Foremost Dairies-Hawaii sold to Big Isle dairy owner

By Sean Hao
Advertiser Staff Writer

Foremost Dairies-Hawaii is being sold to a Big Island dairy owner under a deal announced late yesterday.

Bahman Sadeghi, principal owner of Foremost buyer FH Acquisition LLC, said there were no plans to make changes at the 51-year-old dairy.

Financial terms were not disclosed for the purchase, which is expected to be completed Jan. 30.

House Foods Corp., which purchased Foremost in 1987, said it was selling the dairy operation to focus on its spices, curry and package products businesses. Foremost DairiesiHawaii manufactures and distributes milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream, ice cream, juices and nectars.

FH Acquisition said it would keep the Foremost name and assume the company's union contract and 146 employees on O'ahu and Maui. Three senior House Foods managers will remain with Foremost during a transition.

"We value the fact that the Foremost name is recognized in every Hawai'i home," said Sadeghi, FH Acquisition's manager. "There are no changes in operations planned, and the Kalihi headquarters of Foremost DairiesiHawaii will be maintained."

Sadeghi is part-owner of Island Dairy In O'okala and manager for Hawaii Intermodal Tank Transport LLC, which transports milk and orange juice from the Mainland. He lives in Hawai'i and Irvine, Calif.

Reach Sean Hao at shao@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8093.