Germany dairy giant Müller to close its depot in Aberdeen, Scotland, after previously announcing it was reviewing operations.
Müller, which has been reviewing its network of dairies in Scotland with a view to cutting costs, pointed to changes in the market for fresh milk.
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“Sadly, it is a reality that the distribution model for fresh milk has changed and if we’re going to operate a sustainable fresh milk business in the short and long term, benefiting the fresh milk sector as a whole, we must adapt,” Ian Smith, the CEO of Müller’s Milk & Ingredients division, said. The closure could lead to “the potential loss” of 45 jobs, the company said in a statement.
Müller announced in August it was reviewing its network of dairies in Scotland, including the depot in Aberdeen. However, it said then that operations could switch to other sites, creating around 22 jobs in the centre of Scotland, but with the loss of as many as 50 posts in Aberdeen.
Announcing the Aberdeen closure yesterday (19 September), Müller said those 22 jobs will be created as it reshapes its network in Scotland.
Kate Cumming, the area organiser for trade union Usdaw, said: “This decision is devastating news for our members. Usdaw has interrogated the business case for the closure of the Müller depot in Aberdeen in a meaningful consultation process, but regrettably no viable alternative was found. The consultation closed last week and we continue to provide our members with support, advice and training to try to secure alternative employment.”
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By GlobalDataIn February, Muller announced what it calls “Project Darwin”, a process to cut costs and improve profitability in the UK and Ireland.
Since then, Muller has set out moves to cut the number of products it sells in the UK and close a dairy in Derbyshire in the English Midlands.
