Müller UK & Ireland Group has moved to allay concerns over the future of the Milk & More doorstep delivery service.

The service is set to be sold by Dairy Crest as part of an £80m divestment of its dairies business to the German processor.

Days after Müller UK & Ireland Group CEO Ronald Kers said the whole Dairy Crest business, including Milk & More, would be reviewed if the deal gained approval, a spokesman said: “We’d like to allay specific concerns which have been raised by some commentators around the future of Milk & More.”

“This is a key part of the business which we are buying and we want to send a clear signal to customers and franchisees that it will be an important part of the combined business in future.”

The spokesman added that Müller was “not able to get involved in the specific operations of the company” until the acquisition received approval from competition authorities.

However, once this approval was secured, he said: “We very much look forward to meeting the team at Dairy Crest and combining the businesses so that they are more competitive and sustainable in the future.”

The sale will also include Dairy Crest’s Frijj brand, its fresh liquid milk business - plus its bulk and potted cream, bulk butter and milk powder businesses - and is subject to approval from competition authorities.

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