DALLAS – In advance of the initial public offering of its WhiteWave-Alpro business unit, the Dean Foods Co. published the business’ preliminary third-quarter results. For the quarter ended Sept. 30, WhiteWave-Alpro anticipates an operating income of $64 million, a 22% increase compared to the same period of the previous year when the business unit’s operating income was $53 million.

Sales for WhiteWave-Alpro are anticipated to be $531 million during the quarter, a 13% increase compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011.

Once separated from Dean Foods, WhiteWave-Alpro will operate under the new name of the WhiteWave Foods Co.