The British trade publication *Farmers Weekly* speculates on the consequences of Lactalis’s takeover of Saputo UK:

Following the announcement on 14 August that Lactalis is taking over Saputo, major brands such as Cathedral City, Country Life and Wensleydale will pass into the ownership of the French dairy giant. The transaction is expected to be finalised by the end of March 2027, subject to regulatory approval.

For British dairy farmers, the longer-term implications could be more significant than the immediate change of ownership. “I don’t think Saputo made any money from the plant, nor was it the springboard into Europe that one might have hoped for,” said Chris Walkland, dairy market analyst at the Walkland Partnership.

Lactalis is known for growing through acquisitions. “Every few years, the company acquires another group of companies somewhere,” says Nick Holt-Martyn of The Dairy Group. “This is the next step.” Producers should not expect radical changes overnight. “It will be an evolution, not a revolution.”

A key question is whether Lactalis, which already has several well-known brands such as President, Seriously and Galbani in its portfolio, will improve the price it pays for milk in the UK. “Lactalis has never paid the highest price in the UK; it has always been in the mid-to-lower range,” said Walkland. “The company may need to step up its game in this regard, as it is a highly competitive market.”

There is also uncertainty regarding Lactalis’s existing site in Stranraer and the question of whether Cheddar production might ultimately be concentrated at Davidstow, the site of Cathedral City. “I don’t know how anyone can pay a billion pounds for a cheese factory in the UK and make a profit from it; Saputo couldn’t and didn’t manage it,” warned Walkland.