KENDAL'S troubled Parmalat firm has been bought, it was announced this week.

Dairy company Dale Farm Group, from Northern Ireland, has purchased the trade and assets of the dairy processing site on Shap Road for an undisclosed sum.

The site will now trade as Dale Farm Kendal Limited, and it is hoped the buyout will secure the 200 jobs at the plant, which has an annual turnover of approximately £30 million.

The deal will mean the Kendal operation can continue to produce a wide range of yoghurt, dessert and cottage cheese products under the Losely and Lakeland Maid brands, and leading own brands.

Kendal has been the UK headquarters of the Italian firm for the last 12 months. Parmalat has hit international headlines following a string of revelations about its finances.

Full story in Friday's Westmorland Gazette.