Müller acquires powdered milk producer

With the acquisition, Müller will use Yew Tree Dairy’s production capabilities for milk powder to grow its export business, drive supply chain resilience and secure a positive future for the British dairy industry.

Rob Hutchison, Müller Milk & Ingredients chief executive, said the acquisition underlined the group’s ambition to grow and build a ‘better future’ for the sector.

“Yew Tree Dairy has excellent processing capabilities, a talented team with great expertise, and strong relationships with its customers and supplying farms,”​ said Hutchinson. “When combined with our well-invested and resilient network, I am very confident that these two family-owned businesses will complement each other really well.​

Global growth

“This acquisition will enable us to tap into global dairy consumption growth, unlock additional export opportunities and continue to drive supply chain resilience.”​

Completion of the deal is expected later this year, subject to approval from the Competition and Markets Authority. Once completed, Müller plans to significantly invest in the capacity and capabilities of the Skelmersdale milk drying site.

This investment, partnered with Müller’s internal expertise and experience, will enable the business to become a major producer and exporter of powdered milk products made in Britain, with milk from British dairy farms.

Yew Tree Dairy’s Carl Woodcock added: “We as a family are very proud of the dairy business we have built and are looking forward to seeing the progression and development by Müller of the Skelmersdale operation. The family felt the time was right to explore new opportunities whilst retaining our farming roots.​

Part of something bigger

“After meeting with the Müller family, we feel confident that this is the right decision for the business to be part of a larger organisation for the next phase of growth that will benefit our staff, farmers, and customers in the longer term.”​

Müller UK & Ireland is wholly owned by Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller which employs more than 32,000 people throughout Europe. In the UK, Müller develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of branded and private label dairy products made with milk from 1,300 farmers in Britain, alongside a designated plant-based range.

Meanwhile, Valeo Foods has completed the acquisition of leading Italian bakery products manufacturer Dal Colle​​ for an undisclosed fee.