USA – Dean Foods and Suiza Foods will spend much of 2002 integrating their two businesses after their merger was officially completed at the end of last year.

The combined entity is trading as Dean Foods Company and creates America’s biggest processor and distributor of fresh milk and dairy products. The new business now operates in 39 states, has 129 plants and services more than 150,000 customers coast-to-coast. Headquartered in Dallas, it will have annual revenue of $10 billion (11bn euro).

In connection with the merger, Dean repurchased its 33.8% stake in Suiza Dairy Group from Dairy Farmers of America at a cost of 160 million euro. All of Dean’s dairy operations are now 100% owned by the company’s shareholders.