Press release -
New Lockerbie dairy underlines Arla's commitment to Scotland
Arla Foods has confirmed that its new multi-million pound dairy processing plant in Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire, will open in October this year with the creation of around 100 jobs.
Tim Smith, chief executive designate of Arla Foods UK plc, speaking at Lockerbie, said: "We have had a long held strategic commitment to Scotland. This has been reinforced by the creation of the Lockerbie dairy. The past 12 months have been very successful for Arla in its fresh milk business, gaining sole supply for Asda in November and more recently the Morrisons business, which will be effective from October. Both these wins have a very positive impact on our new plant at Lockerbie.
"We believe our success has been due to excellent service and the quality of our fresh milk. We are one hundred per cent committed to Scotland in the long-term, as I believe the development of this dairy demonstrates. The dairy at Lockerbie, coupled with our existing facility at Nairn, makes us ideally suited to service the total Scottish market from the two newest dairies in Scotland.
"Our relationship with Milk Link led to us agreeing with The Cheese Company on a plan for Arla to build and operate this new dairy on their existing site with the benefit of us sharing facilities."
The company welcomed the newly elected MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale David Mundell, and the MSP for Dumfries, Dr Elaine Murray, to the site of the new dairy, which can process up to 150 million litres of fresh milk per year in the phase one development.
Mr Mundell said: "I am very pleased to see the creation of these jobs in Lockerbie and I look forward to the opening of the plant later this year. The dairy industry is facing tough challenges in Scotland at the moment, which makes this good news even more welcome."
Dr Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, said: "My constituents will be pleased to see the financial investment in new jobs created here in Lockerbie, and the value of the site to local dairy farmers will be very significant. Dumfries and Galloway has a long-established tradition of dairy farming which is based on the highest standards of farming practice."
The Lockerbie dairy is an addition to the existing Arla dairy and distribution centre at Nairn and the distribution centre at Coatbridge. The Lockerbie site represents an investment of £16 million.
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Arla Foods UK plc is home to some of the UK’s leading dairy brands including Cravendale, Lurpak and Anchor. Processing approximately two billion litres of milk a year Arla continues to be one of the UK’s leading dairy companies and a supplier of fresh liquid milk and cream to the top seven retailers.
Over 2,500 daily deliveries are made directly to stores nationwide and Arla brands can be found across the dairy category. As well as the leader of the butter, spreads and margarine sector, and a major supplier of other added value products including flavoured milk and cheese, Arla continues to build working relationships with Arla Foods Milk Partnership, a unique group of dairy farmers, which supplies around 90 per cent of Arla's total milk requirements.
Behind this leading business is a team of circa 2,800 people across the UK located at our dairies, distribution centres and head office.
