Adams/First Milk ruling by OFT due in February

The Office of Fair Trading is expected to make a decision on the Adams Foods and First Milk cheese supply deal at the beginning of February.

The dairy companies announced a strategic partnership in October, under which Adams will cut, pack and market hard cheese produced by First Milk’s creameries. They jointly notified the OFT of the deal in November.

“We do not expect the authorities to have real concerns,” Adams Foods said in a statement, adding that it expected a decision in early February.

The OFT has asked for written representations “about any competition or public interest issues” to be made by 18 December 2013.