The Hills. Facility to close

Lion Nathan, which owns the Dairy Farmers’ brand, said the closure of its Baulkham Hills factory would close in July following a re-evaluation of its viability. Forty-two employees will be affected. Opportunities may exist for them to be redeployed elsewhere in the region.

First official bidder for Dairy Farmers

Thje first official confirmation of a bidder for the NSW co-operative milk processor, Dairy Farmers, based at Sydney Olympic Park, is National Foods. The ACCC has called for submissions from interested parties by May 12, with a decision by June 12. Dairy Farmers has described National Foods as "the first of a number of parties interested in acquiring or merging with the business." The Melbourne-based National Foods,which was acquired by Japanese brewer, Kirin, in December, for $2.6 billion, has a sales office in Silverwater and a factory and distribution centre in Penrith.