The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has approved the Müller UK and Ireland’s acquisition of Yew Tree Dairy, which was first announced in June.
Yew Tree Dairy, a family-owned dairy company based in Skelmersdale, West Lancashire, main activities were the sale of milk powders, and bulk cream and raw liquid milk in the UK and Europe.
The acquisition, due to be completed by the end of this month, will see Müller use Yew Tree Dairy’s milk powder production capabilities to grow its export business and “drive supply chain resilience”.
In a statement issued today (Tuesday, October 22), Müller said that the move will “secure a positive future for the British dairy industry”.
Müller
In August, the CMA launched of a merger inquiry to determine if the deal would result in a substantial lessening of competition within the market in the UK for goods or services.
The competition watchdog announced on its website today that the case was closed, with the full text behind its decision to green light the move due to be published shortly.
Müller has said that it intends to utilise internal expertise from within the wider company to enhance its milk drying capability, enabling it to become a major producer and exporter of powdered milk products made in Britain, with milk from British dairy farms.
“This acquisition will drive significant progress towards MMI’s purpose to deliver a better dairy future,” Rob Hutchison, chief executive at Müller Milk & Ingredients, said.
“The British dairy industry is world-renowned for its approach to sustainability, quality and welfare and so, not only does this acquisition underline our ambition to grow our business, but also a commitment to ensuring our customers, farmers and consumers will all feel the benefit.
“We’re excited to welcome our new colleagues from Yew Tree Dairy to Müller, and I look forward to meeting them all in the coming weeks and opening a new chapter for both businesses and the wider supply chain,” he added.
Carl Woodcock from Yew Tree Dairy said that “as a family-owned and operated company” it was very proud of the organisation it built “over the last few decades”.
“It was important for us to hand over the reins to people who’d look after the business with the same care and consideration as we have over the years, and we’re confident that the values and goals we’ve seen from the Müller family are similar to our own.
“Joining Müller will help Yew Tree Dairy go from strength to strength, benefitting our staff, farmers and customers and creating a strong and successful future for the British dairy industry,” he said.
