The decision comes as Müller deems the Heilbronn and Schefflenz sites in the Baden-Württemberg region “not viable due to negative economic prospects,” with closure anticipated before the conclusion of summer 2026.

Approximately 400 employees will be directly affected by the impending closures.

The initial agreement for Müller to acquire a portion of FrieslandCampina’s German assets, encompassing facilities and a majority of products tailored for the German market, was announced in 2022. However, regulatory clearance for the transaction was only granted in February of the following year, contingent on Müller finding a buyer for milk-based brands Tuffi and Landliebe.

The stipulation led to Müller’s discontent, as it was compelled to close a factory in Cologne that it had acquired from FrieslandCampina, complying with competition regulations at the time.