Kraft Heinz (KHC, $32.01) sells off its Breakstone’s business to lower debts

Amidst persisting challenges in the dairy industry, Kraft Heinz is planning to slim its business by selling one of its long time brands, Breakstone’s, which sells cottage cheese, butter and sour cream. This move is part of the company’s broader review of its dairy business conducted by the Royal Bank of Canada. It is estimated that Breakstone’s sales could garner a valuation of roughly $400 million.

The dairy industry has been increasingly losing its relevance as customers are turning to non-dairy alternatives like oat, soy and almond milk. Last year, Kraft Heinz announced the sale of its Canadian natural cheese business to Italian dairy group Parmalat for C$1.62 billion ($1.23 billion).

Falling shares of dairy products is another cause for companies to make such selling decisions. Shares of leading U.S. dairy producer Dean Foods (DF), owner of brands like Organic Valley milk, DairyPure sour cream and TruMoo milk, have fallen 68% over the past year. Kraft Heinz’s own shares fell by 25% after the company announced its dismal fourth quarter results in February.

Other food giants like General Mills (GIS) to Kellogg (K) have also felt the pressure of a constraining industry, but Kraft Heinz’s fall was even sharper when two years ago Unilever rejected its acquisition request. Further, the cost cutting strategy of 3G capital, the creator of Kraft Heinz, in important areas like research and development backfired resulting in poor performance.

Now, Kraft Heinz is slimming its portfolio to bring leverage down to three times EBITDA, rather than the four times at which analysts say it is currently pegged. Analysts note it has $3 billion of debt coming due in 2020, which may have to be refinanced.