8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):

February 25, 2011

Dean Foods Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

Delaware	1-12755	75-2559681
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

2711 North Haskell Avenue, Suite 3400

Dallas, TX 75204

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (214) 303-3400

Not Applicable.

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On March 1, 2011, Dean Foods Company (the “Company”) announced that Joseph E. Scalzo would no longer serve as the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer, effective February 25, 2011. In connection with the termination of his employment, Mr. Scalzo will receive severance benefits pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated Executive Severance Pay Plan, which is set forth on Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 19, 2010.

The press release containing this announcement is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

99.1 Dean Foods Company press release dated March 1, 2011.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: March 1, 2011	DEAN FOODS COMPANY
	By:	/s/ Steven J. Kemps
		Steven J. Kemps Executive Vice President and General Counsel

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Dean Foods Company press release dated March 1, 2011

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Joseph Scalzo, President & Chief Operating Officer, Departs Dean Foods

Chairman & CEO Gregg Engles To Assume Operating Responsibilities

DALLAS, March 1, 2011/PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Dean Foods Company (NYSE: DF) today announced that Joseph E. Scalzo, 52, President and Chief Operating Officer, left the company February 25. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gregg Engles is assuming Scalzo’s operating responsibilities, and executives previously reporting to Scalzo will now report directly to Engles. The Company does not intend to name a replacement for Scalzo.

Said Engles, “I want to thank Joe for his many contributions to Dean Foods. Joe was instrumental in building the WhiteWave platform into a single winning company, and recruited and developed exceptional talent. We wish Joe well in his future endeavors as he pursues opportunities to lead a Consumer Packaged Goods company.”

“It has become clear to the Board, me and Joe that Dean Foods will be best served by a new structure that can move decisively and quickly to execute our strategy while maintaining an extremely tight rein on costs,” continued Engles. “We expect to finish out our initial $300 million cost reduction program by achieving the final $125 million or better of savings across the supply chain in 2011. Additionally, we are aggressively attacking cost at the center, with a goal of reducing our SG&A run rate by at least $30 million by year end 2011. Dean Foods has a bright future and I am confident we will deliver for shareholders, customers and our employees.”

ABOUT DEAN FOODS

Dean Foods is one of the leading food and beverage companies in the United States and a European leader in branded soy foods and beverages. The Company’s Fresh Dairy Direct-Morningstar segment is the largest U.S. processor and distributor of milk, creamer, and cultured dairy products. These offerings are marketed under more than 50 local and regional dairy brands, as well as through private labels. The WhiteWave-Alpro segment produces and sells an array of branded dairy, soy and plant-based beverages and foods. WhiteWave brands, including Silk(R) soy and almond milk, Horizon Organic(R) milk and dairy products, International Delight(R) coffee creamers, and LAND O LAKES(R) creamers, are category leaders and consumer favorites. Alpro is the pan-European leader in branded soy food products.

CONTACT: Corporate Communications, Marguerite Copel, +1-214-721-1273; or Investor Relations, Barry Sievert, +1-214-303-3438