Dairy Crest sale of milk business to Muller referred back to UK watchdog
Dairy Crest Group said yesterday that it was still on track to sell its dairy operations after being referred back to the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) yesterday by the European Commission for review.
The company behind Cathedral City cheese and Frijj milkshakes is in the process of selling its loss-making liquid milk business to Muller UK & Ireland for £80m as it shifts its focus to cheese and spreads.
The company has been losing customers to supermarket chains, which offer cheaper milk than its door-to-door delivery service.
Chief executive Mark Allen said that the referral back to the CMA was a “positive step” and that the sale remained on track.
“It has always been our preference for the transaction to be reviewed in the UK… We will work with Muller and the CMA to progress the merger review as quickly as possible,” he said.