Eden Vale catches an Irish eye

NORTHERN Ireland's leading dairy group has emerged as the front-runner to buy the Eden Vale yoghurt and dessert operation put up for sale by Northern Foods.

Dale Farm Group, based in Belfast, is understood to be in talks to take over the business. The move follows Northern Foods' decision to sell off a number of peripheral operations to concentrate on its core activities such as ready meals for supermarkets, sandwiches and speciality breads. Northern supplies about a third of all Marks & Spencer's chilled food.

Northern sold its Ski and Munch Bunch businesses to Nestle in 2002.

Eden Vale, based in Shropshire, is reckoned to be loss-making, but analysts are still speculating that the operation might fetch about £20 million.

Useful links