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| logo = Saputo Dairy UK logo.png
| logo = Saputo Dairy UK logo.png
| logo_size =
| logo_size =
| type = Limited company
| type = Limited Company
| traded_as = {{lse|DCG}}
| former_name = Dairy Crest plc
| former_name = Dairy Crest plc
| foundation = 1981
| foundation = 1981
| location = [[Weybridge]], [[Surrey]], [[United Kingdom]]
| location = [[Weybridge]], [[Surrey]], [[United Kingdom]]
| key_people = Tom Atherton (President and COO)
| key_people = Tom Atherton<br><small>(President And COO)</small>
| industry = [[Dairy product|Dairy Products]]
| industry = [[Dairy product|Dairy Products]]
| products = Cathedral City (cheese)<br>Clover<br>Petits Filous
| products = Cathedral City (cheese)<br>Clover<br>Petits Filous
| revenue = [[Pound sterling|£]]456.8 million (2018)<ref name=prelims>{{cite web|url=https://www.dairycrest.co.uk/media/1077/annual-report-2018.pdf|title= Annual Report 2018|publisher=Dairy Crest|access-date=17 March 2019}}</ref>
| revenue = £456.8 million (2018)<ref name=prelims>{{cite web|url=https://www.dairycrest.co.uk/media/1077/annual-report-2018.pdf|title= Annual Report 2018|publisher=Dairy Crest|access-date=17 March 2019}}</ref>
| operating_income=[[Pound sterling|£]]71.4 million (2018)<ref name=prelims/>
| operating_income=£71.4 million (2018)<ref name=prelims/>
| net_income = [[Pound sterling|£]]149.5 million (2018)<ref name=prelims/>
| net_income = £149.5 million (2018)<ref name=prelims/>
| num_employees = 1,097 (2018)<ref name=prelims/>
| num_employees = 1,097 (2018)<ref name=prelims/>
| subsid =
| subsid =
| owner = [[Saputo Inc.]]
| owner = [[Saputo Inc.]]
| homepage = {{url|http://uk.saputo.com/}}
| homepage = {{URL|http://uk.saputo.com/}}
}}
}}
'''Saputo Dairy UK Limited''' is a [[holding company]] for '''Dairy Crest Limited'''; a leading British dairy products company. It was created in May 2019 when the Canadian company [[Saputo Inc.|Saputo Inc]] bought out Dairy Crest. Dairy Crest itself was created in 1981 as a spin off of the [[Milk Marketing Board]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=dairyreporter.com|title=Dairy Crest becomes Saputo Dairy UK|url=https://www.dairyreporter.com/Article/2019/07/03/Dairy-Crest-becomes-Saputo-Dairy-UK|access-date=7 July 2020|website=dairyreporter.com|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=SAPUTO DAIRY UK LTD - Filing history (free information from Companies House)|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/11834952/filing-history|access-date=7 July 2020|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|language=en}}</ref> Its brands include Saputo Dairy UK, [[Cathedral City Cheddar]] cheese, Country Life butter, [[Utterly Butterly]], [[Vitalite]] and [[Clover (spread)|Clover]].
'''Saputo Dairy UK''', formerly Dairy Crest Limited, is a British dairy products company. It was created in 2019 when the Canadian company [[Saputo Inc.|Saputo Inc]] bought Dairy Crest. Dairy Crest itself was created in 1981 as a spin-off of the [[Milk Marketing Board]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Dairy Crest becomes Saputo Dairy UK|url=https://www.dairyreporter.com/Article/2019/07/03/Dairy-Crest-becomes-Saputo-Dairy-UK|access-date=7 July 2020|website=dairyreporter.com|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=SAPUTO DAIRY UK LTD - Filing history (free information from Companies House)|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/11834952/filing-history|access-date=7 July 2020|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|language=en}}</ref> Its brands include Saputo Dairy UK, [[Cathedral City Cheddar]] Cheese, Country Life Butter, Utterly Butterly, [[Vitalite]] and [[Clover (spread)|Clover]].


Dairy Crest processed and sold [[milk]] (wholesale and via doorstep deliveries) and owned the [[milkshake]] brand [[Frijj]] until the sale of this part of the business to Germany’s [[Müller (company)|Müller]] in December 2015. The company was listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]] as '''Dairy Crest plc''', until it was acquired by [[Saputo Inc.|Saputo]] in April 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/dairy/dairy-crest-name-to-disappear-as-it-rebrands-to-saputo-dairy-uk/593370.article|title=Dairy Crest name to disappear as it rebrands to Saputo Dairy UK|newspaper=www.thegrocer.co.uk|date=15 May 2019|access-date=14 August 2020}}</ref> Saputo rebranded the company under its own name later that year.
Dairy Crest processed and sold milk (wholesale and via doorstep deliveries) and owned the milkshake brand [[Frijj]] until the sale of that part of the business to Germany's [[Müller (company)|Müller]] in 2015. The company was listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]] as Dairy Crest plc, until it was acquired by [[Saputo Inc.|Saputo]] in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/dairy/dairy-crest-name-to-disappear-as-it-rebrands-to-saputo-dairy-uk/593370.article|title=Dairy Crest name to disappear as it rebrands to Saputo Dairy UK|newspaper=www.thegrocer.co.uk|date=15 May 2019|access-date=14 August 2020}}</ref> Saputo rebranded the company under its own name later that year.


==History==
==History==
Dairy Crest was established in 1981 as the milk processing arm of the [[Milk Marketing Board]].<ref name="history">{{Cite web |url=http://www.dairycrest.co.uk/ourbusiness/ourhistory.asp |title=Dairly Crest History |access-date=25 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918091122/http://www.dairycrest.co.uk/ourbusiness/ourhistory.asp|archive-date=18 September 2008|url-status=dead }}</ref> The company launched ''Clover'' in the end of 1983, its dairy spread.<ref name="history"/> The company established a joint venture in 1991 with [[France|French]] dairy company [[Yoplait]] called ''Yoplait Dairy Crest'' (often abbreviated to YDC) which is 51% owned by Yoplait and 49% by Dairy Crest and which distributes Yoplait brand products in the United Kingdom.<ref name="history"/>
Dairy Crest was established in 1981 as the milk processing arm of the [[Milk Marketing Board]].<ref name="history">{{Cite web |url=http://www.dairycrest.co.uk/ourbusiness/ourhistory.asp |title=Dairly Crest History |access-date=25 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918091122/http://www.dairycrest.co.uk/ourbusiness/ourhistory.asp|archive-date=18 September 2008|url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1983, the company launched Clover, a dairy spread.<ref name="history"/> The company established a joint venture with [[France|French]] dairy company [[Yoplait]] in 1981, called Yoplait Dairy Crest (sometimes abbreviated to YDC). YDC is 51% owned by Yoplait and 49% by Dairy Crest, and distributes Yoplait brand products in the UK.<ref name="history"/>


It bought the ''Cathedral City'' brand of [[cheese]] from Mendip Foods Ltd in 1995.<ref name="history"/> The business was [[privatised]] in August 1996 and Dairy Crest was listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]].<ref name="history"/>
In 1995, Dairy Crest bought the Cathedral City brand of [[cheese]] from Mendip Foods Ltd.<ref name="history"/> The business was [[privatised]] the following year and Dairy Crest was listed on the [[London Stock Exchange]].<ref name="history"/>


[[File:Dairy Crest Logo.svg|thumb|150px|Logo as Dairy Crest]]
[[File:Dairy Crest Logo.svg|thumb|150px|Logo of Dairy Crest]]


It acquired the dairy and cheese products division of [[Unigate]] in [[London]] in July 2000,<ref name="history" /> and in November 2002 it acquired the [[St Ivel]] spreads company which had been based in [[Wootton Bassett]] in [[Wiltshire]].<ref name="history" /> It acquired the ''Country Life'' butter brand from the English Butter Marketing Company in September 2004.<ref name="history" /> It acquired [[Express Dairies]] from [[Arla Foods]] in July 2006 for £33 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/jul/24/food.money|title=Dairy Crest buys rival to expand milk round|author=Mark Tran|work=The Guardian|access-date=26 March 2015}}</ref>
In 2000, Dairy Crest acquired the dairy and cheese products division of [[Unigate]] in [[London]],<ref name="history" /> and in 2002 bought the [[St Ivel]] spreads company, which had been based in [[Wootton Bassett]] in [[Wiltshire]].<ref name="history" /> In 2004, it acquired the Country Life butter brand from the English Butter Marketing Company,<ref name="history" /> and [[Express Dairies]] from [[Arla Foods]] in 2006 for £33 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/jul/24/food.money|title=Dairy Crest buys rival to expand milk round|author=Mark Tran|work=The Guardian|date=24 July 2006|access-date=26 March 2015}}</ref>


It sold the majority of its own label cheese business to its Scottish equivalent [[First Milk (company)|First Milk]] in October 2006 along with the creameries and factory that produce most of the products concerned.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5380606.stm|title=BBC NEWS - Business - Dairy Crest sells cheese business|work=bbc.co.uk|access-date=26 March 2015}}</ref> Dairy Crest bought St Hubert for £248 million in January 2007 securing the ''Cholegram'', ''Le Fleurier'', ''Omega 3'' and ''Vallé'' brands.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
The company sold the majority of its own-label cheese business to its Scottish equivalent [[First Milk (company)|First Milk]] in 2006, along with the creameries and factory that produce most of the products concerned.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5380606.stm|title=BBC NEWS - Business - Dairy Crest sells cheese business|work=bbc.co.uk|date=26 September 2006|access-date=26 March 2015}}</ref> In 2007, Dairy Crest bought St Hubert for £248 million, securing the Cholegram, Le Fleurier, Omega 3 and Vallé brands, which were subsequently sold in 2012 to [[Montagu Private Equity]] for €430 million (£347 million).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/693db296-c1fc-11e1-8e7c-00144feabdc0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/61dYO |archive-date=11 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|title=Dairy Crest sells St Hubert|work=www.ft.com|date=29 June 2012|access-date=10 July 2022}}</ref>


===Sale of Milk Business===
===Sale of milk business===
[[Image:Dairy Crest Milk Float Garage 2.jpg|thumb|right|A Dairy Crest [[Smith Electric Vehicles|Smith's]] Elizabethan milk float (2008)]]
[[Image:Dairy Crest Milk Float Garage 2.jpg|thumb|right|A Dairy Crest [[Smith Electric Vehicles|Smith's]] Elizabethan Milk Float <small>(January 2008)</small>]]
Dairy Crest sold its doorstep milk delivery operations in the [[North West England|North West of England]] in July 2013 to ''Creamline Dairies'' who now operate the milk rounds from the depots in [[Warrington]], [[Flixton, Greater Manchester|Flixton]], [[Stockport]] and [[Macclesfield]] and Mortons operate all those in [[Metropolitan Borough of Wirral|Wirral]], [[Chester]] and [[Liverpool]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.creamline.co.uk/dairy-crest-customers|title=Creamline FAQs - General FAQs - Help and Support|work=creamline.co.uk|access-date=26 March 2015}}</ref> Dairy Crest announced a big slump in profits on 6 November 2014 which was down 95% to £900,000 in the six months to September.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29929561|title=Dairy Crest sells milk operations as profits slump|publisher=BBC News|access-date=6 November 2014}}</ref>
Dairy Crest sold its doorstep milk delivery operations in the [[North West England|North West of England]] in July 2013 to ''Creamline Dairies'' who now operate the milk rounds from the depots in [[Warrington]], [[Flixton, Greater Manchester|Flixton]], [[Stockport]] and [[Macclesfield]] and Mortons operate all those in [[Metropolitan Borough of Wirral|Wirral]], [[Chester]] and [[Liverpool]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.creamline.co.uk/dairy-crest-customers|title=Creamline FAQs - General FAQs - Help and Support|work=creamline.co.uk|access-date=26 March 2015}}</ref> Dairy Crest announced a big slump in profits on 6 November 2014 which was down 95% to £900,000 in the six months to September.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29929561|title=Dairy Crest sells milk operations as profits slump|publisher=BBC News|date=6 November 2014|access-date=6 November 2014}}</ref>


The company agreed the sale of its entire legacy milk business which processes and distributes milk as well as the milkshake brand of [[Frijj]] to Germany’s [[Müller (company)|Müller]] for £80 million to be combined with Müller’s existing subsidiary [[Müller Wiseman Dairies]]. The sale was approved by the [[Competition and Markets Authority]] on 19 October 2015,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ratcliffe|first1=Madeline|title=Dairy Crest share price rises as CMA approves Muller takeover|url=http://www.cityam.com/226853/dairy-crest-share-price-rises-as-cma-approves-muller-takeover|access-date=23 October 2015|work=City AM|date=19 October 2015}}</ref> and the sale was completed on 26 December 2015.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Daneshkhu|first1=Scheherazade|title=Dairy Crest loses taste for UK milk production with Müller deal|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e1bc9750-aa56-11e5-955c-1e1d6de94879.html#axzz3vePpyZ4I|access-date=28 December 2015|work=Financial Times|date=28 December 2015}}</ref>
The company agreed the sale of its entire legacy milk business, which processes and distributes milk, as well as the [[Frijj]] milkshake brand, to Germany's [[Müller (company)|Müller]] for £80 million, enabling it to be combined with Müller's existing subsidiary, [[Müller Wiseman Dairies]]. The sale was approved by the [[Competition and Markets Authority]] on 19 October 2015,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ratcliffe|first1=Madeline|title=Dairy Crest share price rises as CMA approves Muller takeover|url=http://www.cityam.com/226853/dairy-crest-share-price-rises-as-cma-approves-muller-takeover|access-date=23 October 2015|work=City AM|date=19 October 2015}}</ref> and completed the following December.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Daneshkhu|first1=Scheherazade|title=Dairy Crest loses taste for UK milk production with Müller deal|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e1bc9750-aa56-11e5-955c-1e1d6de94879.html#axzz3vePpyZ4I |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/ZBewi |archive-date=11 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=28 December 2015|work=Financial Times|date=28 December 2015}}</ref>


===Acquisition by Saputo===
===Acquisition by Saputo===
It was announced that Canadian dairy company [[Saputo Inc.|Saputo Inc]] would be buying Dairy Crest on 22 February 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cathedral City firm to be bought for £975m |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47329330 |access-date=22 February 2019 |work=BBC News |date=22 February 2019}}</ref>
It was announced in 2019 that Canadian dairy company [[Saputo Inc.|Saputo Inc]] would be buying Dairy Crest.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cathedral City firm to be bought for £975m |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47329330 |access-date=22 February 2019 |work=BBC News |date=22 February 2019}}</ref>


The company was valued at £975m making each share worth 620p.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Onita |first1=Laura |title=Dairy Crest deal set to net boss Mark Allen £4.8 million |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/dairy-crest-deal-set-to-net-boss-mark-allen-48-million-a4073956.html |access-date=22 February 2019 |work=Evening Standard |date=22 February 2019 |language=en}}</ref> The transaction was completed on 15 April 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2019/04/18/Dairy-processor-completes-Dairy-Crest-purchase|title=Saputo completes acquisition of Dairy Crest|date=18 April 2019|publisher=Food Manufacture|access-date=19 April 2019}}</ref> At the time of the sale, Dairy Crest was the fourth largest dairy company in the United Kingdom based on turnover.<ref>{{Cite web|last=White2019-03-04T14:08:00+00:00|first=Kevin|title=Who owns the dairy industry? The 10 biggest dairy companies in the UK|url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/rankings/who-owns-the-dairy-industry-the-10-biggest-dairy-companies-in-the-uk/590833.article|access-date=2020-07-07|website=The Grocer|language=en}}</ref> Saputo renamed the business under its own brand in July 2019, though Dairy Crest Limited remained the principal legal entity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sandercock |first1=Henry |title=Dairy Crest brand replaced by new owner Saputo |url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/dairy/dairy-crest-brand-replaced-by-new-owner-saputo/595116.article |access-date=12 April 2020 |work=The Grocer |date=4 July 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
The company was valued at £975 million, making each share worth 620p.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Onita |first1=Laura |title=Dairy Crest deal set to net boss Mark Allen £4.8 million |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/dairy-crest-deal-set-to-net-boss-mark-allen-48-million-a4073956.html |access-date=22 February 2019 |work=Evening Standard |date=22 February 2019 |language=en}}</ref> The transaction was completed on 15 April 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2019/04/18/Dairy-processor-completes-Dairy-Crest-purchase|title=Saputo completes acquisition of Dairy Crest|date=18 April 2019|publisher=Food Manufacture|access-date=19 April 2019}}</ref> At the time of the sale, Dairy Crest was the fourth largest dairy company in the UK based on turnover.<ref>{{Cite web|last=White|first=Kevin|title=Who owns the dairy industry? The 10 biggest dairy companies in the UK|url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/rankings/who-owns-the-dairy-industry-the-10-biggest-dairy-companies-in-the-uk/590833.article|access-date=2020-07-07|website=The Grocer|language=en}}</ref> Saputo renamed the business under its own brand in July 2019, though Dairy Crest Limited remained the principal legal entity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sandercock |first1=Henry |title=Dairy Crest brand replaced by new owner Saputo |url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/dairy/dairy-crest-brand-replaced-by-new-owner-saputo/595116.article |access-date=12 April 2020 |work=The Grocer |date=4 July 2019}}</ref><ref name=":0" />


==Operations==
==Operations==
The company supplies [[cheese]], spreads and drinks. Cheese brands include ''[[Cathedral City Cheddar|Cathedral City]]'', ''[[Davidstow Cheddar]]'' and ''Wexford''.<ref name=brands>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dairycrest.co.uk/our-brands--products.aspx |title=Dairy Crest: Brands |access-date=20 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312060039/http://www.dairycrest.co.uk/our-brands--products.aspx |archive-date=12 March 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Spread brands include ''[[Clover (spread)|Clover]]'', ''Country Life'', ''Utterly Butterly'', ''[[Vitalite]]'' and ''Willow''.<ref name=brands/> Spread and Frylight cooking spray production is consolidated at [[Kirkby]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dairycrest.co.uk/our-business/our-locations.aspx |title=Dairy Crest: Locations |access-date=20 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327212721/http://www.dairycrest.co.uk/our-business/our-locations.aspx |archive-date=27 March 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Davidstow Creamery]] in Cornwall has been run by the company since 1981.
The company supplies [[cheese]], spreads and drinks. Cheese brands include [[Cathedral City Cheddar|Cathedral City]], [[Davidstow Cheddar]] and Wexford.<ref name=brands>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dairycrest.co.uk/our-brands--products.aspx |title=Dairy Crest: Brands |access-date=20 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312060039/http://www.dairycrest.co.uk/our-brands--products.aspx |archive-date=12 March 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Spread brands include [[Clover (spread)|Clover]], Country Life, Utterly Butterly, [[Vitalite]] and Willow.<ref name=brands/> Spread and Frylight cooking spray production is consolidated at [[Kirkby]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dairycrest.co.uk/our-business/our-locations.aspx |title=Dairy Crest: Locations |access-date=20 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327212721/http://www.dairycrest.co.uk/our-business/our-locations.aspx |archive-date=27 March 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Davidstow Creamery]] in Cornwall has been run by the company since 1981.


At [[Truro Crown Court]] in December 2021, Dairy Crest admitted charges relating to a series of incidents of serious pollution between December 2015 and January 2021, including the illegal discharge of "biological sludge" and "suspended solids" from its creamery at [[Davidstow]] into the [[River Inny (Cornwall)|River Inny]], Cornwall.<ref>{{cite news|title=Discharge from Davidstow Cathedral City cheese factory poisoned fish|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-59597830 |work=BBC News|date=10 December 2021|accessdate=13 December 2021}}</ref> Fines of £1.52 million were imposed on the company in June 2022.<ref>{{cite news|title=Davidstow Cathedral City cheese firm pollution fine|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-61914566|work=BBC News|date=23 June 2022|accessdate=23 June 2022}}</ref>
[[Crudgington]] Creamery was closed in May 2014 when production of spreads was concentrated at Kirkby while its research and development facility was transferred to an innovation centre built by the company at [[Harper Adams University]].<ref name=shropstar>{{cite news|title=Demolition to start at creamery, Landmark buildings to disappear|work=Shropshire Star|date=12 June 2015|page=6|author=Emma Walker}} The headline refers to demolition of the premises due to begin 2015.</ref> Plans for the creamery to close were first announced in September 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://farming.co.uk/news/dairy-crest-to-close-shropshire-creamery|title=Dairy Crest to close Shropshire creamery|newspaper=farming.co.uk|date=21 September 2012|access-date=14 August 2020}}</ref>

Plans for the [[Crudgington]] Creamery to close were announced in 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://farming.co.uk/news/dairy-crest-to-close-shropshire-creamery|title=Dairy Crest to close Shropshire creamery|newspaper=farming.co.uk|date=21 September 2012|access-date=14 August 2020}}</ref> The Creamery closed in May 2014, when production of spreads was concentrated at Kirkby while the research and development facility was transferred to an innovation centre built by the company at [[Harper Adams University]].<ref name=shropstar>{{cite news|title=Demolition to start at creamery, Landmark buildings to disappear|work=Shropshire Star|date=12 June 2015|page=6|author=Emma Walker}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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{{Saputo}}
{{Agriculture in the United Kingdom}}{{British cheeses|state=collapsed}}
{{Agriculture in the United Kingdom}}{{British cheeses|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:1981 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1981 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:British subsidiaries of foreign companies]]
[[Category:British subsidiaries of foreign companies]]
[[Category:British companies established in 1981]]

Latest revision as of 00:10, 29 July 2024

Saputo Dairy UK
FormerlyDairy Crest plc
Company typeLimited Company
IndustryDairy Products
Founded1981
HeadquartersWeybridge, Surrey, United Kingdom
Key people
Tom Atherton
(President And COO)
ProductsCathedral City (cheese)
Clover
Petits Filous
Revenue£456.8 million (2018)[1]
£71.4 million (2018)[1]
£149.5 million (2018)[1]
OwnerSaputo Inc.
Number of employees
1,097 (2018)[1]
Websiteuk.saputo.com

Saputo Dairy UK, formerly Dairy Crest Limited, is a British dairy products company. It was created in 2019 when the Canadian company Saputo Inc bought Dairy Crest. Dairy Crest itself was created in 1981 as a spin-off of the Milk Marketing Board.[2][3] Its brands include Saputo Dairy UK, Cathedral City Cheddar Cheese, Country Life Butter, Utterly Butterly, Vitalite and Clover.

Dairy Crest processed and sold milk (wholesale and via doorstep deliveries) and owned the milkshake brand Frijj until the sale of that part of the business to Germany's Müller in 2015. The company was listed on the London Stock Exchange as Dairy Crest plc, until it was acquired by Saputo in 2019.[4] Saputo rebranded the company under its own name later that year.

History

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Dairy Crest was established in 1981 as the milk processing arm of the Milk Marketing Board.[5] In 1983, the company launched Clover, a dairy spread.[5] The company established a joint venture with French dairy company Yoplait in 1981, called Yoplait Dairy Crest (sometimes abbreviated to YDC). YDC is 51% owned by Yoplait and 49% by Dairy Crest, and distributes Yoplait brand products in the UK.[5]

In 1995, Dairy Crest bought the Cathedral City brand of cheese from Mendip Foods Ltd.[5] The business was privatised the following year and Dairy Crest was listed on the London Stock Exchange.[5]

Logo of Dairy Crest

In 2000, Dairy Crest acquired the dairy and cheese products division of Unigate in London,[5] and in 2002 bought the St Ivel spreads company, which had been based in Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire.[5] In 2004, it acquired the Country Life butter brand from the English Butter Marketing Company,[5] and Express Dairies from Arla Foods in 2006 for £33 million.[6]

The company sold the majority of its own-label cheese business to its Scottish equivalent First Milk in 2006, along with the creameries and factory that produce most of the products concerned.[7] In 2007, Dairy Crest bought St Hubert for £248 million, securing the Cholegram, Le Fleurier, Omega 3 and Vallé brands, which were subsequently sold in 2012 to Montagu Private Equity for €430 million (£347 million).[8]

Sale of milk business

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A Dairy Crest Smith's Elizabethan Milk Float (January 2008)

Dairy Crest sold its doorstep milk delivery operations in the North West of England in July 2013 to Creamline Dairies who now operate the milk rounds from the depots in Warrington, Flixton, Stockport and Macclesfield and Mortons operate all those in Wirral, Chester and Liverpool.[9] Dairy Crest announced a big slump in profits on 6 November 2014 which was down 95% to £900,000 in the six months to September.[10]

The company agreed the sale of its entire legacy milk business, which processes and distributes milk, as well as the Frijj milkshake brand, to Germany's Müller for £80 million, enabling it to be combined with Müller's existing subsidiary, Müller Wiseman Dairies. The sale was approved by the Competition and Markets Authority on 19 October 2015,[11] and completed the following December.[12]

Acquisition by Saputo

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It was announced in 2019 that Canadian dairy company Saputo Inc would be buying Dairy Crest.[13]

The company was valued at £975 million, making each share worth 620p.[14] The transaction was completed on 15 April 2019.[15] At the time of the sale, Dairy Crest was the fourth largest dairy company in the UK based on turnover.[16] Saputo renamed the business under its own brand in July 2019, though Dairy Crest Limited remained the principal legal entity.[17][2]

Operations

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The company supplies cheese, spreads and drinks. Cheese brands include Cathedral City, Davidstow Cheddar and Wexford.[18] Spread brands include Clover, Country Life, Utterly Butterly, Vitalite and Willow.[18] Spread and Frylight cooking spray production is consolidated at Kirkby.[19] Davidstow Creamery in Cornwall has been run by the company since 1981.

At Truro Crown Court in December 2021, Dairy Crest admitted charges relating to a series of incidents of serious pollution between December 2015 and January 2021, including the illegal discharge of "biological sludge" and "suspended solids" from its creamery at Davidstow into the River Inny, Cornwall.[20] Fines of £1.52 million were imposed on the company in June 2022.[21]

Plans for the Crudgington Creamery to close were announced in 2012.[22] The Creamery closed in May 2014, when production of spreads was concentrated at Kirkby while the research and development facility was transferred to an innovation centre built by the company at Harper Adams University.[23]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Annual Report 2018" (PDF). Dairy Crest. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Dairy Crest becomes Saputo Dairy UK". dairyreporter.com. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  3. ^ "SAPUTO DAIRY UK LTD - Filing history (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Dairy Crest name to disappear as it rebrands to Saputo Dairy UK". www.thegrocer.co.uk. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Dairly Crest History". Archived from the original on 18 September 2008. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  6. ^ Mark Tran (24 July 2006). "Dairy Crest buys rival to expand milk round". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  7. ^ "BBC NEWS - Business - Dairy Crest sells cheese business". bbc.co.uk. 26 September 2006. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  8. ^ "Dairy Crest sells St Hubert". www.ft.com. 29 June 2012. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Creamline FAQs - General FAQs - Help and Support". creamline.co.uk. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  10. ^ "Dairy Crest sells milk operations as profits slump". BBC News. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  11. ^ Ratcliffe, Madeline (19 October 2015). "Dairy Crest share price rises as CMA approves Muller takeover". City AM. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  12. ^ Daneshkhu, Scheherazade (28 December 2015). "Dairy Crest loses taste for UK milk production with Müller deal". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2015.
  13. ^ "Cathedral City firm to be bought for £975m". BBC News. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  14. ^ Onita, Laura (22 February 2019). "Dairy Crest deal set to net boss Mark Allen £4.8 million". Evening Standard. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  15. ^ "Saputo completes acquisition of Dairy Crest". Food Manufacture. 18 April 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  16. ^ White, Kevin. "Who owns the dairy industry? The 10 biggest dairy companies in the UK". The Grocer. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  17. ^ Sandercock, Henry (4 July 2019). "Dairy Crest brand replaced by new owner Saputo". The Grocer. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Dairy Crest: Brands". Archived from the original on 12 March 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  19. ^ "Dairy Crest: Locations". Archived from the original on 27 March 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2010.
  20. ^ "Discharge from Davidstow Cathedral City cheese factory poisoned fish". BBC News. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  21. ^ "Davidstow Cathedral City cheese firm pollution fine". BBC News. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  22. ^ "Dairy Crest to close Shropshire creamery". farming.co.uk. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  23. ^ Emma Walker (12 June 2015). "Demolition to start at creamery, Landmark buildings to disappear". Shropshire Star. p. 6.
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