Directorate Change

RNS Number:7250L
Dairy Crest Group PLC
30 May 2003

30th May 2003



                     Dairy Crest Group plc ("Dairy Crest")

                                 Board Changes



Dairy Crest, the UK's leading chilled dairy foods company, announces the
appointment of Alastair Murray to the Board as Group Finance Director from
September 2003.



Alastair Murray, aged 42, has been Finance Director at The Body Shop
International plc since January 1999 and was also Finance Director for Dalgety
Food Ingredients Limited between 1994 and 1998.



Ian Laurie, aged 56, currently Group Finance Director, will leave the company by
mutual agreement in August. He joined Dairy Crest in July 1995 and played a key
role in the flotation of the company in 1996, as well as in the successful
acquisitions of the Unigate dairy and cheese business in 2000 and St Ivel
Spreads in 2002.



Dairy Crest also announces today that Howard Mann, President and Chief Executive
of McCain Foods Limited in Toronto, is joining the Board as a Non-executive
Director, with effect from 30th May 2003. He replaces Tom Jones, who is retiring
as a Non-executive Director.



Simon Oliver, Chairman, said, "I am delighted to welcome both Alastair and
Howard to the Dairy Crest Board. Alastair has a proven relevant track record,
which will be a valuable asset as we continue to develop the Group. Howard's
breadth of commercial management expertise will add to our current range of
Non-executive experience.



"I would also like to express our appreciation to Ian, who helped to steer the
company through flotation and has been a key contributor in developing Dairy
Crest over the last eight years and to thank Tom Jones, who has given valuable
counsel, particularly in farming related issues, during his years on the Board."



Alastair Murray has not held any directorships of any other publicly quoted
company in the previous five years, nor does he hold any currently, other than
those listed above. There is no further information to be disclosed under
paragraphs 6.F.2 (b) to (g) of the Listing Rules.



Howard Mann has not held any directorships of any  publicly quoted company in
the previous five years, nor does he hold any currently. There is no further
information to be disclosed under paragraphs 6.F.2 (b) to (g) of the Listing
Rules.



For further information, please contact:



Dairy Crest Group plc                  01372 472200
Sinead Noble, Corporate Communications Manager



Citigate Dewe Rogerson                 020 7638 9571
Andy Cornelius/ Alexandra Scrimgeour



NOTES TO EDITORS



1. Dairy Crest

Dairy Crest is the UK's premier chilled dairy foods company with leading
positions across the dairy market - dairy spreads, cheese, liquid milk, fresh
flavoured milk drinks, fresh dairy products (yogurt, fromage frais, chilled
desserts), through our Yoplait Dairy Crest joint venture.



The company focuses on building leadership positions in branded and added-value
markets and its portfolio of brands includes:



*         Cathedral City, Davidstow and Wexford cheese brands which make Dairy
Crest the leading supplier of mature cheddar in the UK.  The company is also the
UK's largest producer of Stilton.



*         Clover is the brand leader in the dairy spreads segment and Frijj is
the brand leader in the fresh flavoured milk drinks market.  Dairy Crest is also
a major producer of Country Life packet butter and Country Life Spreadable,
Willow dairy spread and the recently launched Argento, an olive oil based
spread.



*         Dairy Crest acquired the St Ivel Spreads business in November 2002
with its strong portfolio of well-known brands including Utterly Butterly, St
Ivel Gold, Vitalite and Carapelli.  The acquisition has provided Dairy Crest
with a presence in every major sector of the UK spreads market.



*         Dairy Crest is a leading supplier of fresh dairy products through the
Yoplait Dairy Crest joint venture with its brands Petits Filous and Frubes,
together with ranges including Wildlife and Weight Watchers.



Dairy Crest is the UK's largest purchaser of raw milk, currently processing
around 2.5 billion litres pa and is the market leader in doorstep deliveries in
southern England.




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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