A cheese brand favourite with shoppers is set to come under new ownership following a major business sale.
The UK’s best-selling cheese brand, Cathedral City, is being acquired by French dairy group Lactalis as part of a £988 million deal with Saputo.
The sale covers Saputo's entire UK dairy operation, including five manufacturing sites and brands such as Clover and Country Life.
Carl Colizza, president and chief executive of Saputo, said: "The value to be realised recognises the expertise of the UK team, the quality of the operations and the market position of these leading brands.
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"This transaction reinforces our strategic focus and enhances our financial flexibility as we continue to create long-term shareholder value through disciplined capital allocation."
Cathedral City is the UK’s most popular cheese brand, with sales of £320.2 million last year, according to The Grocer’s Top Products report.
Saputo’s UK division employs around 1,300 people and generated £630 million in revenue over the past year.
The deal is expected to close by the end of March 2027, subject to regulatory approvals.
Lactalis said the acquisition supports its goal of expanding its portfolio with brands that reflect the UK’s dairy heritage.
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Emmanuel Besnier, chairman of Lactalis, said: "By welcoming famous brands and recognised expertise into the group, we are strengthening our position in the UK market and reaffirming our commitment to providing consumers with high-quality dairy products."
Mr Colizza also thanked the UK team for their work.
He said: "We are profoundly grateful to our colleagues in the United Kingdom for their dedication and contributions to Saputo.
"We look forward to seeing these strong assets and brands continue to build on their market positions under new ownership."
