Dairy Crest - History

History

Dairy Crest was established in 1981 as the processing arm of the Milk Marketing Board. In 1983 the company launched Clover, its dairy spread.

In 1991 the company established a joint venture with 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 UK. In 1995 it bought the Cathedral City brand of cheese from Mendip Foods Ltd.

The business was privatised in August 1996 and Dairy Crest was listed on the London Stock Exchange. In July 2000 it acquired the dairy and cheese products division of Unigate in London and in November 2002 it acquired the St Ivel spreads company which had been based in Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire. In September 2004 it went on to acquire the Country Life butter brand from English Butter Marketing Company. In July 2006 it acquired Express Dairies from Arla Foods for £33m. In October 2006, it sold the majority of its own label cheese business to First Milk, its Scottish equivalent, along with the creameries and factory that produce most of the products concerned.

In January 2007 Dairy Crest bought St Hubert for £248 million securing the Cholegram, Le Fleurier and Omega 3 brands, which are among the top selling spreads in France, and the Vallé brand which is the market leader in Italy.