MÜLLER AIMS TO REINVIGORATE MILK & INGREDIENTS SECTOR

Müller Milk & Ingredients can play a major role in invigorating and revitalising the UK’s fresh milk and dairy ingredients sector, according to Managing Director, Andrew McInnes.

But the new business, which is being created by combining the dairy operations of Müller Wiseman Dairies and Dairy Crest, must integrate with pace to realise its potential, whilst continuing to maintain its focus on serving its customers.

“We have the opportunity to build something special in the UK dairy industry with real benefits for customers, colleagues, farmers and suppliers,” said Andrew McInnes.

“It is important to recognise that the status quo, particularly within the fresh milk sector, was not working and we must therefore identify and make the changes and savings required to build a combined business which is sustainable, successful and vibrant.

“We will listen to our colleagues, customers, farmers and suppliers so that we can validate and refine our plans and estimates based on accurate information. Our commitment is then to communicate the resultant changes and improvements we need to make clearly and in a timely manner.

“Our aim is to become a successful milk and ingredients business as quickly as possible. To do this we will prioritise the delivery of great products and service, building an engaged workforce, putting in place common systems and processes, and achieving higher levels of competitiveness through savings from combining the two businesses.

“We have an excellent workforce and I am confident that we will make real progress in 2016.”

Employees, customers, farmers and suppliers are receiving information directly on the vision and plans for the new organisation, which employs around 10,000 people in 13 dairies and over 70 depots, and processes 25% of Britain’s milk production.

Ends… 04 January, 2016

Issued by Graeme Jack, Group Communications Director, Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller Tel +44 (0)1355 598585 or +44 (0) 7900 430269.

Note to Editors

Additional press resources can be found on the media section of our website: www.muller.co.uk/media

These include past press releases detailing the history of the acquisition process, and supporting images, logos and documents for download.

Further information is also available on our website at www.muller.co.uk

Transaction History

• Müller announced its intention to acquire the dairy operations of Dairy Crest on 6^th November 2014, subject to approval by competition authorities
• The acquisition comprised Dairy Crest’s processing, trading and distribution activities relating to liquid milk, packaged cream, flavoured milk and bulk commodity ingredients
• It included Dairy Crest’s dairy facilities at Severnside, Chadwell Heath, Foston and Hanworth together with around 70 depots, employing around 3,500 people.
• The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) confirmed its approval of the acquisition on 19^th October 2015.
• The decision followed agreement by the CMA that Müller would toll process a nominated volume of fresh liquid milk for fresh milk processor Medina Dairy at the Severnside facility to ensure competition for national multiple tenders in the South West, Wales, the South and the Midlands.
• The transaction completed on December 26^th, 2015.
• The new Müller Milk & Ingredients business will employ over 8,000 people and process 25% of Britain’s milk production, with 2,000 dairy farmers contracted to supply the business.