The UK competition watchdog has cleared Dairy Crest’s acquisition of the dairy operations of the East of England Cooperative Society.

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In January, the Office of Fair Trading had invited comment from interested parties on the possible effects the deal could have on competition in the dairy sector.


However, the OFT said today (19 March) that it had approved the transaction.


Under the deal, over 300 co-op dairy employees in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex have moved across to Dairy Crest, the UK’s largest dairy processor.


The co-op decided to quit dairy production due to falling demand for its products and volatile prices in the sector.

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