Muller UK & Ireland’s takeover of Dairy Crest’s dairies division could go through by the end of the year, after the German-owned firms offered concessions.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has said there are “reasonable grounds” for thinking the proposals could avoid the six-month investigation announced two weeks ago. The £80m deal was pushed into a “phase two” probe due to concerns that less competition in some parts of the UK could push up milk prices for retailers and shoppers.
Muller has offered to process a certain amount of milk for a third party dairy processor in the South West and Wales. This other firm would be able to compete for supplying major supermarkets in those areas.