Dean Foods explores sale of Morningstar business

DALLAS — In an effort to maximize shareholder value, Dean Foods announced its decision to explore a transaction that may result in the sale of the company's Morningstar business.

The company said it only intends to sell Morningstar Foods — a leading warehouse delivery dairy business that produces and sells traditional and specialty items, including cultured dairy products, ice cream mixes, coffee creamers, aerosol whipped toppings, traditional and value-added milks, and blended iced beverages to retailers and foodservice providers nationwide — if it can do so in a transaction that "maximizes shareholder value and helps ensure the future success of the business."

Dean Foods also noted, however, that it has not yet identified a buyer for Morningstar.