DALLAS, Nov. 15, 2016
/PRNewswire/ -- Dean Foods Company (NYSE: DF) and CROPP, an
independent farmer cooperative, are partnering in a strategic joint
venture to bring organic milk to retailers through Dean Foods'
processing plants and refrigerated direct store delivery (DSD)
distribution system.
The 50/50 joint venture will serve as a strategic growth
platform for both companies. Dean Foods will provide processing
services and distribution through its extensive refrigerated
distribution network. Organic Valley will provide a select
portfolio of recognized brands and products, marketing expertise,
and access to an organic milk supply from America's largest
cooperative of organic dairy farmers. Both Dean Foods and Organic
Valley will leverage their sales expertise to drive distribution;
Dean Foods brings extensive experience in channels such as large
format, dollar store and C-store while Organic Valley brings
expertise in the natural channel, emerging markets and specialty
distributors.
"Adding Organic Valley® to the current lineup of Dean Foods
branded dairy products enables Dean Foods to offer retail customers
the largest and most comprehensive dairy offering across multiple
segments with national brands that consumers know and trust. It
also allows us to further leverage our manufacturing and
distribution network," said Gregg
Tanner, CEO of Dean Foods. "We believe the dynamic and
growing Organic Valley brand of organic milk is the perfect
complement to our own category-leading DairyPure® and TruMoo®
brands and gives Dean Foods a strong position in the organic dairy
segment."
"This partnership reinforces Organic Valley's mission to support
more organic farmers and grow our business," said George Siemon, CEO of Organic Valley. "Consumers
will enjoy the same Organic Valley quality they've come to know and
trust: the same farmers will supply the same organic milk. But now
more Organic Valley organic milk will be on more grocery shelves
across the country."
The joint venture expects to begin processing and shipping
Organic Valley products in mid-to-late 2017.
About Dean Foods
Dean Foods® is a leading food and beverage company and the
largest processor and direct-to-store distributor of fluid milk and
other dairy and dairy case products in the United States. Headquartered in
Dallas, Texas, the Dean Foods
portfolio includes DairyPure®, the country's first and largest
fresh, white milk national brand, and TruMoo®, the leading national
flavored milk brand, along with well-known regional dairy brands
such as Alta Dena®, Berkeley Farms®, Country Fresh®, Dean's®,
Friendly's®, Garelick Farms®, LAND O LAKES® milk and cultured
products*, Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms®, Mayfield®, McArthur®, Meadow
Gold®, Oak Farms®, PET®**, T.G. Lee®, Tuscan® and more. In all,
Dean Foods has more than 50 local and regional dairy brands and
private labels. Dean Foods also makes and distributes ice cream,
cultured products, juices, teas, Caribou Coffee®*** ready-to-drink
coffee beverages and bottled water. Almost 17,000 employees across
the country work every day to make Dean Foods the most admired and
trusted provider of wholesome, great-tasting dairy products at
every occasion. For more information about Dean Foods and its
brands, visit www.deanfoods.com.
*The LAND O LAKES brand is owned by Land O'Lakes, Inc. and is
used by license.
**PET is a trademark of Eagle Family Foods Group LLC, used under
license.
***Caribou Coffee is a trademark of the Caribou Coffee Company
and is used by license.
About Organic Valley
Organic Valley is America's
largest independent cooperative of organic farmers and one of the
nation's leading organic brands. Organized in 1988, it represents
more than 1,850 farmers in 36 U.S. states, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom and achieved $1.04 billion in 2015 sales. Focused on its
founding mission of saving family farms through organic farming,
Organic Valley produces a wide range of organic dairy, soy, egg and
produce products. With its regional model, milk is produced,
bottled and distributed right in the region where it is farmed to
ensure fewer miles from farm to table and to support our local
economies. For further information visit www.organicvalley.coop.
Organic Valley is also on Twitter (@OrganicValley) and Facebook
(www.facebook.com/OrganicValley).
Contact Dean Foods: Corporate
Communications, Jamaison Schuler,
+1-214-721-7766; or Investor Relations, Sherri Baker, +1-214-303-3438
Contact CROPP/Organic Valley: Media Relations, Hans Eisenbeis, +1-608-625-3802
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SOURCE Dean Foods Company