Dairy giant Arla Foods has pledged to invest more than £300m across five of its sites in the UK.
The company stated that the commitment, announced during the UK Farm to Fork Summit at Downing Street, was part of its mission to enhance British dairy production and support the nation’s food security.
The investment will benefit Arla’s facilities in Lockerbie, Stourton, Aylesbury, Westbury and Taw Valley. Upgrades will aim to modernise and expand the company’s production capabilities as it looks to create more opportunities for British milk and cheese production.
Bas Padberg, Managing Director of Arla Foods UK, said: “What this means is that our farmer owners are investing in UK food security – as they are not only producing our milk, but they are backing this investment in our production sites”.
He added: “Dairy plays a significant role in the UK economy, with sales of dairy products exceeding £8bn. On the day of the Farm to Fork Summit, we are delighted to set out plans for continued vital investment in our business worth tens of millions of pounds, ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of food production and keeping the nation’s favourite dairy products on our supermarket shelves.”
