17/04/2012

Supermarket Milk Supplier Announces Closures

Almost 500 jobs are at risk after supermarket milk supplier Daisy Crest announced plans to close two of its dairies.

The proposed closures involve a glass bottling dairy at Aintree, Merseyside, which employs 220 people, and a site at Fenstanton in Cambridgeshire employing 250 people.

Despite a recent £75m investment programme the company says it is battling an "extremely challenging" market for milk and said the closure plans, which are subject to staff consultation, would help it reduce costs and sustain profitability.

The demise of the Aintree site reflects a fall in sales of milk in glass bottles as residential trade continues to decline and customers increasingly opt for plastic bottles and milk bags.

Dairy Crest also has a food division that makes leading brands such as Cathedral City, Country Life and Clover.

The company's chief executive, Mark Allen, said the dairy closures would protect the future of that side of the business.

He added: "The decision to consult on the closure of our Aintree and Fenstanton facilities has not been taken lightly, but we believe that this proposed restructuring of our dairies business is the right decision for the long term."


Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

12 August 2015
New Milk Brand To Pay Percentage Direct To Farmers
A new milk brand is to be launched that will pay 10 pence-per-litre of the retail price direct to dairy farmers. Launched by supermarket chain Morrisons, the new milk brand will go on sale later this year and is aimed at shoppers who want to directly support dairy farmers.
26 July 2012
Farmers End Milk Blockades
Farmers have ended their blockade of a milk processing plant in Derbyshire. About 200 farmers, who have been at Dairy Crest's factory in Foston since Wednesday protesting over declining payments, have now left the site. There have been protests around the UK over the amount of money farmers are paid for milk.
23 July 2012
Ministers To Host Milk Dispute Talks
In an effort to resolve a dispute over milk pricing, minister will host talks between dairy farmers and milk processing firms. The farming minister at Westminster, Jim Paice, will lead the meeting at the Royal Welsh Show, in Powys.
20 July 2012
Farmers Protest Over Milk Prices
Hundreds of farmers have blockaded milk plants in protest over supermarket pricing of the product. They also held marches to campaign against processors cutting up to 2p a litre off prices. Celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall have backed their cause, urging the public to boycott some supermarkets.
23 June 2006
Cadbury recalls chocolate bars over salmonella fears
More than a million Cadbury chocolate bars are being removed from shops over fears that they may be contaminated with salmonella. Seven of the chocolate manufacturer's products are affected.