German food giant Dr Oetker said that its subsidiary, Dr August Oetker Nahrungsmittel, has bought privately owned dairy company Onken.

No financial details were disclosed and Dr Oetker said that the two brands would remain independent.

Onken had a turnover of 200m euros in 2003 with 500 employees throughout Europe. It has production facilities in Germany, Russia and Poland and sales operations in the UK and other European countries.

In a statement Dr Oetker said that Enno Onken, who has been the Onken’s managing director since 1973, would remain with the company as a consultant.