Milk Link has today (29 September) announced that it will invest GBP20m (US$31.3m) into its facility in Lockerbie, Scotland.
Through the investment, the UK cheese maker aims to increase the facility’s production capacity and meet growing demand from retailers, food service businesses, food processors and export customers for its cheese, butter and dairy ingredients.
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The GBP20m investment means that Milk Link’s production capacity will increase by 12,000 tonnes to over 37,000 tonnes of cheese per annum.
Chief executive Neil Kennedy said: “Our investment at Lockerbie will transform the creamery and reinforce Milk Link’s leadership position in the production of high quality British cheeses for the retail and food service sectors. The new creamery will deliver consistently high product quality, higher production yields and enhanced environmental standards.
Work at the facility is due to start later this year and is expected to be completed by autumn next year, the company said.
“As well as securing vital jobs, the creamery expansion will provide a boost for farmers as the amount of milk required increases to meet demand,” Rural affairs secretary, Richard Lochhead said.
Milk Link’s other major Cheddar creameries include Taw Valley in Devon and Llandyrnog in North Wales and the company is owned by over 1,600 dairy farmers.
