Dale Farm has further boosted its growing British market presence with the purchase of the Ash Manor Cheese business, based in Wrexham, for an undisclosed sum. Ash Manor Cheese will give Dale Farm an established cheese grating, slicing and packing operation which will complement Dale Farm’s existing cheese making and packing capacity at Dunmanbridge, Cookstown.
Established 25 years ago, Ash Manor Cheese is a privately owned company with a customer base in retail, foodservice and food ingredients.
Commenting on the deal, Dale Farm’s Group Chief Executive, David Dobbin, said:
“This investment in Ash Manor Cheese complements Dale Farm’s recent £50million investment in its processing facilities, giving us a well established cheese packing business with good potential for further growth. The business will continue to trade as Ash Manor Cheese, with Nigel Wilkin continuing as Managing Director and Ian Hutton taking a non-executive role.”
Ian Hutton, Chairman and founder of Ash Manor Cheese, said:
“We are delighted with this deal, which makes good sense for both Ash Manor Cheese and Dale Farm; giving Dale Farm an established outlet for its cheese and securing the long term future of Ash Manor Cheese as part of a large and rapidly growing UK dairy business.”
