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                                    FILED BY SUIZA FOODS CORPORATION PURSUANT TO
                                    RULE 425 OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND
                                    DEEMED FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 14a-12 OF THE
                                    SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                                    SUBJECT COMPANY: DEAN FOODS COMPANY
                                    COMMISSION FILE NO. 333-64936





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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 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 have filed with the SEC a preliminary joint proxy
statement/prospectus and other relevant documents concerning the proposed
transaction. In addition, Suiza and Dean Foods will prepare and file a
definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents
concerning the proposed merger transaction. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE
DEFINITIVE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE, AND ANY
AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THE DEFINITIVE



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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 definitive 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, definitive 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 2001 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.



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       The communication filed herewith is a July 12, 2001 press release.

================================================================================

[SUIZA FOODS LOGO]                                             [DEAN FOODS LOGO]

NEWS RELEASE

Contacts:

Suiza Foods:

Cory Olson, Vice President and Treasurer
P.I. Aquino, Assistant Treasurer
(800) 431-9214

Dean Foods:

Barbara Klein, Vice President, Finance and CFO
William Luegers, Vice President and Treasurer
(847) 678-1680

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dean and Suiza File Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus


         Dallas and Franklin Park, Ill. - July 12, 2001 - Suiza Foods
Corporation (NYSE:SZA) and Dean Foods Company (NYSE:DF) announced today that
they have filed a preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with their planned merger.

         Completion of the merger requires the approval of the shareholders of
both companies. Once finalized, the joint proxy statement/prospectus will be
mailed to all shareholders of Suiza and Dean in connection with the solicitation
of votes. The document must undergo routine SEC review and comment before it can
be finalized.

         Although no date has yet been established for the shareholder meetings
that both companies will hold for the purpose of voting on the merger, the
companies stated that they expect the merger to be completed during the latter
half of 2001.



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About Suiza Foods:

Suiza Foods Corporation, based in Dallas, Texas, is the nation's leading fluid
dairy processor and distributor, producing a full line of company-branded and
customer-branded products.

About Dean Foods:
Dean Foods is one of the nation's leading dairy processors and distributors
producing a full line of branded and private label products, including fluid
milk, ice cream and extended shelf life products, which are sold under the
Dean's and other strong regional brand names. Dean Foods is the industry leader
in other food products including pickles, powdered non-dairy coffee creamers,
aseptically packaged foodservice products, and refrigerated dips and salad
dressings.

The statements in this press release concerning when the merger will be
completed, and when certain intermediate steps may be taken in connection with
completion of the merger, are "forward-looking" statements and are made pursuant
to the safe harbor provision of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual
results to differ materially from expectations as of the date of this press
release. The exact timing of the closing of the transaction, and of the
intermediate steps that the companies will take in connection with completion of
the merger, will depend on how quickly the companies obtain the necessary
approvals for the transaction. Other risks relating to the merger are outlined
in the preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus filed by the companies
effective July 12, 2001. All forward-looking statements in this press release
speak only as of the date hereof. Suiza Foods and Dean Foods expressly disclaim
any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to
any such statement to reflect any change in their expectations or any changes in
the events, condition or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Other Legal Information:
Dean Foods and Suiza Foods have filed with the SEC a preliminary joint proxy
statement/prospectus and other relevant documents concerning the proposed merger
transaction. In addition, Dean Foods and Suiza Foods will prepare and file a
definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents concerning
the proposed merger transaction. Investors are urged to read the definitive
joint proxy statement/prospectus, when it becomes available, and any amendments
or supplements to the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus and other
documents filed with the SEC, because they will contain important information
concerning the proposed merger. Investors will be able to obtain the definitive
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 definitive
joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed by Dean Foods and
Suiza Foods with the SEC may be obtained free of charge by contacting Dean
Foods, 3600 North River Road, Franklin Park, Illinois 60131, Attn: Investor
Relations (tel 847-678-1680) or Suiza Foods, 2515 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1200,
Dallas, Texas 75201, Attn: Investor Relations (tel 214-303-3400).

Dean, Suiza and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed
to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Dean
and Suiza in favor of the transaction. The directors and executive officers of
Dean and their beneficial ownership of Dean common stock as of August, 2000 are
set forth in the proxy statement for the 2000 annual meeting of Dean. The
directors and executive officers of Suiza and their beneficial ownership of
Suiza common stock as of March, 2001 are set forth in the proxy statement for
the 2001 annual meeting of Suiza. You may obtain the proxy statement of Dean and
Suiza free of charge at the SEC's website (http://www.sec.gov). Stockholders of
Dean and Suiza may obtain additional information regarding the interest of such
participants by reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus.