First Milk

First Milk changes plan for Scottish creamery

16 Jul 2019

First Milk, the UK dairy co-op, has set out changes to plans announced last year for the future of one of its creameries in Scotland.

Fonterra sells off stake in whey protein JV to UK's First Milk

25 Jun 2019

A UK dairy cooperative has bought peer Fonterra's stake in a joint venture the two companies set up in 2011.

First Milk appoints Chris Thomas as chairman as Clive Sharpe leaves

24 Jul 2018

First Milk has appointed Chris Thomas as chairman of the UK-based dairy cooperative to replace Clive Sharpe, who is stepping down for personal and professional reasons.  

UK dairy firm First Milk to sell Scottish creameries

18 Apr 2018

First Milk, a UK dairy cooperative, has announced it is planning to sell off two creameries in Scotland.

Earnings summary - Conagra Brands sees income rise; General Mills revises full-year guidance

21 Dec 2017

just-food presents the key metrics from company financials in bitesize format, with analyst insight and social media comment alongside graphs illustrating a business' historical performance to give you an easy-to-read digest of the numbers you need to know.

UK dairy First Milk plans to cut jobs in productivity drive

19 Sep 2017

UK dairy company First Milk has announced plans to cut 30 jobs across its Lake District and Haverfordwest creameries as part of a productivity and efficiency drive.

First Milk names Shelagh Hancock new CEO

15 Mar 2017

First Milk today (15 March) named former Medina Dairy and Milk Link executive Shelagh Hancock as its new CEO, replacing Mike Gallacher who is stepping down after two years leading the UK cooperative.

First Milk hails "radical transformation" 

2 Feb 2017

UK dairy cooperative First Milk said it has completed its turnaround process as it hailed a "radical transformation" that has enabled it to catch up on deferred payments to its farmer members. 

First Milk H1 sales down but profits improve

15 Dec 2016

First Milk, the UK dairy cooperative, has reported improved profitability year-on-year in the first half of its financial year despite falling sales.

First Milk forecasts further operating profit growth in new FY

2 Nov 2016

First Milk, the UK dairy co-operative, has forecast higher underlying operating profit in its current financial year.

First Milk sells sports nutrition unit CNP to The Protein Partners

26 Oct 2016

UK dairy cooperative First Milk has agreed to sell its sports nutrition  business CNP Professional to The Protein Partners Ltd. 

First Milk expects to return to profit 

29 Apr 2016

First Milk, the UK dairy cooperative, said that it expects to return to profit as it updated its farmer-owners on the progress of its turnaround efforts. 

Arla takes control of Westbury as First Milk bows out

15 Jan 2016

Arla Foods has taken full control of UK business Westbury Dairies after joint venture partner First Milk decided to leave the partnership to focus on cheese and liquid milk. 

Food industry quotes of the week - Boulder Brands sale, Unilever on carbon

27 Nov 2015

Ahead of the climate talks in Paris, Unilever announced plans to be carbon positive from its operations by 2030. Elsewhere, there was more consolidation in the US food sector, with Pinnacle Foods moving for Boulder Brands. Tyson Foods, Post Holdings and Greencore all had annual results out in the week. Maple Leaf Foods outlined plans to "streamline" its business, which is set to lead to the loss of 400 staff. Here is the week in quotes.

First Milk sells Glenfield Dairy to Graham's The Family Dairy

25 Nov 2015

First Milk has offloaded Glenfield Dairy to fellow UK group Graham's The Family Dairy for an undisclosed sum.

First Milk admits FY losses "not acceptable"

30 Oct 2015

First Milk has reported GBP24.9m (US$38.2m) worth of losses in the year ending 2015, a level chairman Sir Jim Paice called "not acceptable".

Food industry quotes of the week - WHO meat study, Snyder's-Lance, Bonduelle

30 Oct 2015

This week the World Health Organization confirmed findings of a link between processed meat consumption and colorectal cancer - sparking fierce debate in and around the industry. Elsewhere, Snyder's-Lance agreed a deal to buy Kettle Chips owner Diamond Foods for US$1.91bn. And just-food interviewed Bonduelle CFO Gregory Sanson, who hinted at the firm's renewed ambitions for M&A. Here is the week in quotes.

First Milk revamps structure to avoid recent "pitfalls"

27 Oct 2015

First Milk has set out changes to the way the UK dairy co-operative is run, the latest in a series of measures to try to improve its performance.

First Milk names Brian Mackie COO

8 Oct 2015

Brian Mackie has been appointed First Milk’s chief operating officer, the UK dairy co-operative has announced.

Food industry quotes of the week - Ferrero, Nestle, CGF

26 Jun 2015

This week, members of The Consumer Goods Forum committed to halving food waste by 2025. Elsewhere, Ferrero made a bid to acquire UK confectioner Thorntons. Nestle appointed a new CFO to replace Wan Ling Martello and First Milk chairman, Sir Jim Paice, resigned. Here is the week in quotes.

First Milk cuts milk price as chairman departs

24 Jun 2015

UK dairy co-operative First Milk has announced its chairman, Sir Jim Paice, is to step down.

Food industry results in brief - Vion, DMK, First Milk

19 Jun 2015

Challenging conditions in the global dairy sector were again confirmed when both First Milk and DMK reported lower earnings. European meat firm Vion, however, insisted that its results were "improved" on 2014 despite racking up losses in the period. Here are the results in brief for this week.

Building value in liquid milk: a four-point plan

11 May 2015

Liquid milk is not a category that benefits from significant added value. While milk is on the shopping list, generally speaking, it is not an area where consumers are engaged and brands are valued. Here is just-food's four-point plan for adding value to the milk category.

First Milk to cut jobs, milk prices in turnaround drive

1 May 2015

UK dairy co-operative First Milk has announced plans to cut around 70 jobs and reduce the price it pays farmers as the group works to improve its financial position.

Food industry quotes of the week: Gardein, Mondelez, Kerry

1 May 2015

This week, Mondelez International reported its first-quarter results, with news of a solid performance in China. Elsewhere, Associated British Foods announced the launch of a high-protein bread in New Zealand. Yves Potvin, founder of meat-free brand Gardein, spoke to just-food about its plans under the ownership of Pinnacle Foods. And Kerry Group said moves to reposition its portfolio to focus on snacking trends were paying off. Here is the week in quotes.

First Milk names ex-Mars exec Gallacher CEO

13 Mar 2015

UK dairy co-operative First Milk has appointed ex-Mars exec Mike Gallacher its new CEO.

Food industry news of the week: Quorn, Russia, NZ poison fears

13 Mar 2015

We spoke to Quorn Foods CEO Kevin Brennan this week to discuss the takeover talk surrounding the UK meat-free business and his plans for 2015. Elsewhere, Russia admitted it could ease its ban on food imports from the EU, while it was revealed in New Zealand there had been threats to poison infant formula.

First Milk CEO Kate Allum to stand down

9 Mar 2015

First Milk CEO Kate Allum is to leave the UK dairy co-operative, the company confirmed today (9 March).

First Milk posts loss for 2013/14 financial year

28 Jan 2015

UK dairy group First Milk has posted annual losses of over GBP5m despite higher sales thanks to the cost of closing a packing facility and to restructuring charges.

Editor's viewpoint: Global factors hold sway over UK milk prices

23 Jan 2015

The price farmers are paid for milk has again made national headlines in the UK - and again it is the country's supermarket chains in the firing line. Even David Cameron has weighed in on the issue. But, UK farmers, like their counterparts around the world, are at the mercy of global factors.