Dale Farms Extends Northern Ireland Liquid Milk Business
The UK Office of Fairy Trading has cleared the proposed acquisition by Dale Farm of the fresh liquid milk business of Fane Valley Co-operative in Northern Ireland for an undisclosed sum. The sale along with the closure of its dairy in Newry marks Fane Valley’s withdrawal from the liquid milk market in Northern Ireland.
Dale Farm is expected to consolidate milk volumes from the acquired business at its Pennybridge site near Ballymena. Fane Valley is continuing with its dairy ingredients and butter processing business at Armaghdown Creameries in Banbridge.
Dale Farm is part of the United Dairy Farmers Group, a dairy co-operative owned by 2,500 farmers who supply it with fresh milk. Dale Farm produces a wide range of dairy products which it sells across the UK and Ireland as well as exporting to over 45 countries world wide.
In March 2010 Dale Farm announced a £40m investment in its three dairy processing plants, the biggest ever local investment in the dairy industry in Northern Ireland.
