DFA Buys Two Dairy Plants

Dairy Farmers of America, the largest U.S. dairy cooperative, has acquired two processing plants from SmithFoods.

The plants, in Richmond, Ind., and Pacific, Mo., process extended shelf life milk and milk beverages, ice cream and shake mixes. Employment among both hourly employees and office workers is expected to remain unchanged. The facilities will become part of the DFA Dairy Brands division and will operate as Richmond Beverage Solutions and Pacific Dairy Solutions. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“With the addition of these plants, we have an opportunity to not only grow our customer base, but also create synergies between our other extended shelf-life and aseptic facilities,” Pat Panko, executive vice president of DFA, said in a statement.