UK dairy group Milk Link has indicated that its acquisition of Llandyrnog Creamery will position the group for further growth in the UK cheese category.
Milk Link secured the deal after dairy co-operative Dairy Farmers of Britain (DFB) went into receivership last week.
Will Sanderson, Milk Link’s corporate affairs director told just-food that the acquisition was of strategic importance to Milk Link as it is a well-invested site with experienced staff that “makes great cheese”.
The Llandyrnog Creamery produces a range of products, including cheddar, red Leicester and Gloucester cheese.
“This allows us to cover a full range of British cheeses and enables us to build further our customer base,” Sanderson said.
“We are a business that is financially strong and developing in a number of areas, including cheese. We have a long-term strategic plan and this acquisition was part of that… We are committed to growing our business organically, through strategic acquisitions and, where appropriate, partnerships.”
Sanderson revealed that the company has set up five meetings with farmers who supplied Dairy Farmers of Britain, to be held today (8 June) and tomorrow. Milk Link is looking to recruit 300 farmers to supply the Llandyrnog facility.
The company is offering what it described as a “competitive” price for raw milk, 23.5 pence per litre. This compares to 19.5 pence per litre that the farmers supplying Llandyrnog were receiving, Sanderson said.
“Creating a sustainable supply chain is important to us, and we are offering security and a good price,” he said.
