Dairy Crest’s aquisition by Canadian dairy giant Saputo marks the sale of yet another UK-owned dairy company to a foreign multinational, so who are the biggest dairy companies in the UK, and who owns them?

County Milk products

10. County Milk Products

Turnover (£m): 253

Ownership: Privately owned

Country where parent is based: UK

Key specialism: Dairy Ingredient processing and supply  

first milk nestle tanker

9. First Milk

Turnover (£m): 253

Ownership: Farmer co-operative

Country where parent is based: UK

Key specialism: Own label cheese 

Glanbia

8. Glanbia Cheese

Turnover (£m): 279

Ownership: Publicly listed

Country where parent is based: Ireland

Key specialism: Own label cheese and dairy ingredients 

Yeo Valley kefir

7. Yeo Valley

Turnover (£m): 286

Ownership: Privately-owned

Country where parent is based: UK

Key specialism: Own label and branded yoghurt 

Dale Farm Cheese range

6. Dale Farm

Turnover (£m): 341

Ownership: Farmer co-operative

Country where parent is based: UK

Key specialism: Own label and branded liquid milk, yoghurt, cheese and butter 

meadow foods

5. Meadow Foods

Turnover (£m): 427

Ownership: Privately owned/PE

Country where parent is based: UK

Key specialism: Bulk dairy ingredients 

Cathedral City 2

4. Dairy Crest

Turnover (£m): 457

Ownership: Publicly listed

Country where parent is based: Canada (pending shareholder approval)

Key specialism: Branded cheese, butter, spreads and dairy ingredients 

kerrygold

3. Ornua Foods UK

Turnover (£m): 592

Ownership: Farmer co-operative

Country where parent is based: Ireland

Key specialism: Own label and branded cheese, butter and dairy ingredients 

Müller

2. Müller UK & Ireland

Turnover (£m): 1,979

Ownership: Privately owned

Country where parent is based: Germany

Key specialism: Own label and branded liquid milk, yoghurt and butter 

arla milk

1. Arla Foods UK

Turnover (£m): £2,010 

Ownership: Farmer co-operative

Country where parent is based: Denmark

Key specialism: Own label and branded liquid milk, yoghurt, cheese and butter

 

Source: The Grocer research/OC&C Top 150 index 2018

Read next: What does Dairy Crest’s sale mean for the UK’s dairy sector?

 

This article was amended on 8 March to include County Dairy Products