REGINA (Staff) – Two western Canadian dairy co-operatives will merge as soon as next month to form the largest operation in the country.
Saskatchewan-based Dairy Producers Co-operative Ltd. will become part of Agrifoods International Co-operative Ltd. of Burnaby, B.C. once the agreement is finalized, said Dairy Producers board chair Leo Bertoia.
Delegates of both co-ops unanimously approved the amalgamation, announced Dec. 15, and are waiting for regulatory approval.
“We don’t see any major hurdles,” said Dairy Producers spokesperson Wendy Kelly.
About 2,100 dairy farmers in B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan will own the new co-op. It will employ 3,200 people and have annual sales of $1.2 billion.
