DAIRYMENS

Don't cry over spilt milk; National Dairy has more. The company operates about a dozen regional and local dairies mostly in the southern US. Its lineup is sold under brands Borden, Coburg Dairy, Flav-O-Rich, Dairy Fresh, and Velda Farms. National Dairy is part of Mexican dairy giant Grupo Lala, which took over National Dairy from Dairy Farmers of America in 2009. At the time National Dairy was one of the largest milk processors in the US, despite having sold dairy producers Crowley Foods and Marigold Foods (now Kemps) in 2004 to H.P. Hood. National Dairy's clout peaked following its acquisition of two dairy operations from Wessanen and, later, the dairy plants of Suiza, which merged and morphed into Dean Foods.

The buyout from Dairy Farmers of America benefited both Lala and NDH.  The Mexican company gained an entry vehicle to the US market, a priority prompted by the US's growing Hispanic population. In turn, the deal allowed NDH to invest in new opportunities. Following Lala's takeover, NDH bought San-Antonio-based Promised Land Dairy.