CMA clearance decision for Arla Foods UK and Yeo Valley
Statement from Arla Foods UK and Yeo Valley following the CMA clearance decision
Following the announcement in February this year of the partnership between Arla Foods and Yeo Valley on liquid milk, butter and cheese, we are pleased to now announce that the Competition and Markets Authority has approved the deal following a Phase 1 investigation, and that the transaction is now unconditional.
We look forward to legal completion and to working together on growing the Yeo Valley organic dairy brand in the UK.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Ash Amirahmadi, managing director, Arla Foods UK, said: “This is significant news for our business, the industry and our farmer owners. We want to maximise the growth in organic dairy products and continued investment in the Yeo Valley and Arla brands will be key to this. We particularly want to extend a warm welcome to the dairy farmers within the Coombe Farm Milk Pool who are partner suppliers to Waitrose Duchy Organic.Our cooperative beliefs and values are very aligned and we look forward to working closely in the coming months.”
The Yeo Valley yogurt, ice cream, cream and desserts business will continue to be run independently and remain under the ownership of the Mead family.
Arla Foods is a global dairy company and co-operative owned by 11,200 dairy farmers with circa 2,400 of whom are British.
Dating back to 1881, Arla’s purpose is to secure the highest value for its farmers’ milk, while creating opportunities for their growth. With production facilities in 11 countries and sales offices in a further 30, Arla is the world’s fifth largest dairy company and largest supplier of organic dairy products. Arla has a total of more than 18,000 colleagues and its products are sold under the well-known brands Arla®, Lurpak® and Castello® in more than 100 countries.
Arla Foods UK is the largest dairy company in the country and is home to leading dairy brands Anchor®, Arla Cravendale®, and Arla Lactofree® with a turnover of €2.9 billion. The UK is largest market within the Europe Zone, contributing 35% of the zone’s turnover and also comprises 25% of the Group revenue.
As well as being a leading supplier of fresh milk, number one in butter, spreads and cream, Arla is the UK’s largest cheese manufacturer. It has also built the world’s largest fresh milk facility located at Aylesbury that later this year will become the first net zero carbon site of its kind. The UK business has a team of approximately 3,500 colleagues located at its dairies, creameries, distribution centres and head office.