Suiza Enters Joint Venture with DFA

Suiza Foods Corp. (Dallas) has formed a joint venture with Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) that will combine the northeastern dairy operations of both entities. The joint venture includes Suiza's Garelick Farms business and DFA's Tuscan/Lehigh dairy operations. Suiza owns a 75% interest in the joint venture and will act as manager and DFA owns the remaining 25% interest.

The businesses of Suiza contributed to the joint venture include Garelick Farms' operations in Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey, West Lynn Creamery in Massachusetts, Fairdale Farms in Vermont, Grant's Dairy in Maine and Miscoe Springs in Massachusetts. DFA is a national dairy cooperative which owns interests in dairy processors throughout the country. DFA's Tuscan and Lehigh plants contributed to the joint venture currently serve markets in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. The joint venture will be the exclusive entity through which Suiza and DFA will conduct their future dairy operations in the states of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont.

"This venture enables us to greatly expand our already significant presence in the Northeast and broadens our reach to additional markets in the Atlantic coast states," said Gregg Engles, Suiza's Chairman and CEO. "Our customers will now be able to access a single source for a broad range of products in markets from the Mid-Atlantic region through New England."