Quebec, Nova Scotia dairy co-ops to merge

A Quebec dairy and a Nova Scotia dairy are joining forces.

Farmers Co-operative Dairy Ltd. of Halifax and Agropur co-operative of Longueuil, Que., announced the merger on Monday in a release.

Serge Riendeau, chairman of Agropur, says the larger co-operative will be capable of serving customers on a national basis.

The members will submit the proposed merger and related arrangements for approval during separate general assemblies to be held on March 12.

The targeted date for the merging of activities is April 2.

Farmers Dairy is owned by 116 member dairy producers and has annual sales of $176 million, while Agropur has 3,288 producer owners and sales of $3.6 billion.