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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              WASHINGTON, DC 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):
                          May 3, 2001 (March 31, 2001)



                             Suiza Foods Corporation
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)



                                                      
       Delaware                        1-12755                  75-2559681
       --------                        -------                  ----------
   (STATE OR OTHER             (COMMISSION FILE NUMBER)       (IRS EMPLOYER
   JURISDICTION OF                                          IDENTIFICATION NO.)
   INCORPORATION)




                     2515 McKinney Avenue, LB 30, Suite 1200
                               Dallas, Texas 75201
               (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE)



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




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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.

MERGER AGREEMENT WITH DEAN FOODS COMPANY

         On May 3, 2001, Suiza Foods Corporation (the "Company") issued a press
         release, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1, announcing
         its earnings for the quarter ended March 31, 2001.



CAUTIONARY LEGENDS

         Some of the statements in this document are "forward-looking" and are
         made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Securities Litigation
         Reform Act of 1995. These "forward-looking" statements include
         statements relating to (1) the impact the companies expect the proposed
         transaction to have on earnings per share, (2) the companies'
         expectations about their ability to successfully integrate the combined
         businesses, (3) the amount of cost savings and overall operational
         efficiencies the companies expect to realize as a result of the
         proposed transaction, (4) when the companies expect to close the
         proposed transaction, (5) the level of divestitures necessary to obtain
         regulatory approval, (6) the companies' projected combined sales,
         EBITDA and margins, (7) the ability of the companies to implement and
         continue branding initiatives and product innovations in a cost
         effective manner, (8) the ability of the companies to obtain financing
         for the transaction upon the terms contemplated, and (9) the ability to
         meet their stated financial goals. These statements involve risks and
         uncertainties which may cause results to differ materially from those
         set forth in these statements. The ability to achieve the earnings per
         share projected and to realize projected cost savings and operational
         efficiencies is dependent upon their ability in the time periods
         projected, to (i) consolidate or reduce certain administrative or
         centralized functions, (ii) obtain certain goods and services more cost
         effectively, (iii) shift production and distribution between operating
         locations without disruption in their operations or in their relations
         with their customers, and (iv) close the proposed transactions on the
         terms contemplated. The ability to close the proposed transaction in
         the third quarter is subject to receipt of shareholder approval and
         regulatory approval. The level of divestitures necessary to obtain
         regulatory approval of the transaction is subject to the extent of
         competition in the various markets in which the combining companies
         operate, as determined by the Department of Justice, other regulatory
         authorities and potentially, state and federal courts. The ability of
         the companies to achieve projected combined sales, EBITDA and margins
         is dependent upon the ability of the combining companies to maintain
         their existing customer and other business relationships or to replace
         such customers or business relationships with other comparable
         relationships and upon economic, governmental and competitive
         conditions generally. The ability of the companies to obtain financing
         and the terms of such financing is subject to the financial condition
         and operating performance of each of the combining companies prior to
         closing and to economic and financial market conditions generally.
         Other risks affecting the business of the companies are identified in
         their filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including
         the Suiza Foods Annual


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         Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 and the Dean
         Foods Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 28, 2000. All
         forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the
         date hereof. Suiza and Dean Foods expressly disclaim any obligation or
         undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such
         statements to reflect any change in their expectations or any changes
         in the events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement
         is based.

Other Legal Information

         Suiza and Dean Foods expect to file with the SEC a joint proxy
         statement/prospectus and other relevant documents concerning the
         proposed transaction. Investors are urged to read the joint proxy
         statement/prospectus when its becomes available and any amendments or
         supplements to the joint proxy statement/prospectus as well as any
         other relevant documents filed with the SEC, because they will contain
         important information concerning the proposed transaction. Investors
         will be able to obtain the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other
         documents filed with the SEC free of charge at the SEC's website (http:
         //www.sec.gov). In addition, the joint proxy statement/prospectus and
         other documents filed by Suiza and Dean Foods with the SEC may be
         obtained free of charge by contacting Suiza Foods Corporation, 2515
         McKinney Avenue, Suite 1200, Dallas, Texas 75201, Attn: Investor
         Relations (tel 214-303-3400), or Dean Foods, 3600 North River Road,
         Franklin Park, Illinois 60131, Attn: Corporate Secretary (tel
         847-678-1680).

         Suiza, Dean Foods and their respective directors and executive officers
         may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from
         the stockholders of Suiza and Dean Foods in connection with the
         transaction. The directors and executive officers of Suiza and their
         beneficial ownership of Suiza common stock are set forth in the proxy
         statement for the 2000 annual meeting of Suiza. The directors and
         executive officers of Dean Foods and their beneficial ownership of Dean
         Foods common stock are set forth in the proxy statement for the 2000
         annual meeting of Dean Foods. You may obtain the proxy statements of
         Suiza and Dean Foods free of charge at the SEC's website
         (http://www.sec.gov). Stockholders of Suiza and Dean Foods may obtain
         additional information regarding the interest of such participants by
         reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus when it becomes available.


ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

         (a)      Financial Statements of Business Acquired.

                  Not applicable.

         (b)      Pro Forma Financial Information

                  Not applicable.

         (c)      Exhibits

                  99.1     Press Release dated as of May 3, 2001.




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                                   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 thereunto duly authorized.

         Dated:  May 3, 2001               SUIZA FOODS CORPORATION



                                           By: /s/ Lisa N. Tyson
                                              ---------------------------------
                                                   Lisa N. Tyson
                                                   Vice President and Assistant
                                                   General Counsel






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                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS




EXHIBIT
NUMBER              DESCRIPTION
-------             -----------
                 
   99.1             Press Release dated as of May 3, 2001.