Delight over £80m Muller merger
An £80 million move bringing together processing giants Muller and Dairy Crest has been completed with a new company name.
The deal was completed on Boxing Day bringing Muller Wiseman Dairies and Dairy Crest's dairy operations together to create new organisation Muller Milk & Ingredients.
Chief executive of Unternehmensgruppe Theo Muller –the German parent company – Richard Kers said: "With this transaction now concluded we have the opportunity, together with our colleagues, customers, farmers and suppliers, to build on our progress in the UK and create an exciting new future for our dairy business."
Muller announced its plans to acquire the dairy operations of Dairy Crest on November 6, subject to approval by competition authorities – something approved on October 19.
The new business will employ more than 8,000 people and process 25 per cent of Britain's milk production, with 2,000 dairy farmers contracted as suppliers.
The move has also seen Muller re-name its Muller Dairy yoghurt and desserts business – based in Market Drayton, Minsterley and Telford– as Muller Yogurt & Desserts.
Managing director Bergen Merey said: "We've got great plans for 2016 and it makes sense to rename the business to reflect the products which we are proud to make."
Muller Milk & Ingredients managing director Andrew McInnes said: "It is clear that we have a committed workforce and a key priority is to get to know our new colleagues and ensure that they have the information they need to perform their roles and their questions are answered.
"For now it's very much business as usual and colleagues from Muller Wiseman Dairies and Dairy Crest deserve enormous credit for successfully delivering their obligations to customers over the key festive period."
Employees will be able to see plans for the new organisation in site meetings and online. Customers, farmers and suppliers will be sent information on the new organisation.
