DOJ Settles Antitrust Claims Against Dean Foods

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has reached a settlement with Dean
Foods Co. over antitrust concerns about its acquisition of the Foremost Farms
USA Coop.

Under the agreement, which will be published in the Federal Register for
comment and must undergo court approval, Dean will “divest a significant
milk processing plant in Waukesha, Wis., and related assets . . . including
the Golden Guernsey brand name.” The agreement also apparently requires
Dean to “notify the department before it makes any future acquisition of
milk processing plants for which the purchase price is more than $3 million.”
According to DOJ, the divestiture will “restore competition in the sale of milk
to schools, grocery stores, convenience stores and other retailers in Illinois,
Michigan and Wisconsin.” See Department of Justice Press Release, March 29,
2011.