Dean Closes Sale of Vegetable Operations

Dean Foods Co., Franklin Park, IL has completed the sale of its vegetable operations, which includes the nationally known Birds Eye brand, to Agrilink Foods. Dean Foods received approximately $370 million in cash, an Agrilink note in the amount of $30 million plus Agrilink's aseptic foods business.

"The completion of the sale of our vegetable operations provides Dean with added financial fire power and management focus to further expand Dean's three core businesses, Dairy, Pickles and Specialty Foods," said Howard Dean, CEO. "We continue to consolidate the dairy industry, as evidenced by our recently announced acquisition of Berkeley Farms in the California marketplace."

Commenting on the aseptic foods business acquired by Dean Foods as part of the transaction, . Dean said, "The acquisition nearly triples our aseptic food sales and brings to Dean Foods an excellent production facility in Benton Harbor, MI."