Top Northern Irish dairy acquires business in Wales

Dale Farm, the leading Northern Irish dairy business, has acquired Ash Manor Cheese, the Welsh packing operation, in the latest expansion of its activities in Great Britain.

The Northern Irish company specialises in a range of added value dairy products including an award winning range of cheddar cheeses and has recently expanded production operations in Cookstown, county Tyrone.

The company, headquartered in Belfast, has gained World Cheese Awards and UK Great Taste Awards for its cheddars. It also has dairy processing operations in Scotland and Cumbria and has been active in developing sales to major retailers throughout Great Britain.

Ash Manor, which is based at Wrexham in north Wales, specialises in cheese grating, slicing and packing. It will continue to trade as Ash Manor Cheese.

Dr David Dobbin, Dale Farm chief executive, commenting on the latest acquisition, says: "This investment in Ash Manor Cheese complements our recent investment in cheese processing facilities at Cookstown giving us a well-established cheese packing business with good potential for further growth."

Ash Manor Cheese was founded by chairman Ian Hutton, who adds: "we are delighted with this deal, which makes good sense for both Ash Manor and Dale Farm. It gives dale Farm an outlet for its cheese and secures the long-term future of Ash Manor Cheese as part of a large and rapidly growing dairy business.

Dale Farm is owned by United Dairy Farmers, Northern Ireland's biggest farmers co-operatives which also supplies milk, butter, cream and yoghurt. Dale Farm is also a major producer of whey protein powder for export to markets such as China, Africa and South America. It currently exports to around 45 countries including Russia, a major customer for Dale Farm cheese.