Associated Dairies
Manufacturer and wholesaler of dairy products
1949 The Asquith family merged their retail business with the Associated Dairies company of Yorkshire.
c. 1966 Associated Dairies acquired 2 American built GEM giant stores at Leeds and Nottingham which were operated on a franchise basis; this became the basis for the company's differentiation through its use of no-frills superstores.
It expanded into Southern England during the 1970s.
1976 Over the past 10 years, Associated Dairies Ltd had changed from being a milk processor to being one of the country's top 5 grocery retailers. It was the parent of the Asda Group.[1]
1978 Associated Dairies Group Ltd was incorporated bringing together Wades Department Stores Group and Allied Retailers Ltd. Opened several further Asda superstores[2]
1985 Name changed to ASDA-MFI Group plc
1987 Associated Dairies Ltd was incorporated; acquired the Associated Fresh Foods Division of ASDA-MFI Group plc and the whole of Lakeland Creameries Ltd, Lakeland Dairy Products (Kendal) Ltd and Lakeland Ice Cream Co Ltd[3]
1992 renamed MD Foods plc.
2000 Renamed Arla Foods plc