Muller Wiseman's Dairy Crest bid to include logistics operation

Müller Wiseman UK & Ireland has agreed to acquire the dairy operation of Dairy Crest Group, including the division's distribution activities.

If approved by competition authorities, the move will see around 70 Dairy Crest depots, including production facilities at Severnside, Chadwell Heath, Foston and Hanworth, taken over by the German-owned dairy giant.

A spokesman for Müller confirmed to Motortransport.co.uk that the acquisition would include logistics operations carried out by the Dairy Crest sites involved in the takeover, including the collection of milk from UK farmers, which is then processed in dairies before onward distribution to depots, retailers and consumers.

The spokesman said it was too early to comment further on any contract details until the transaction is approved.

According to Motor Transport's Top 50 Own-Account Operators league table (in today's edition of Motor Transport), the combined O-licences of the two business provide authorisation for 1,223 vehicles: 828 at Müller and 395 at Dairy Crest.