Hanne Sondergaard to head up Arla's milk procurement

Arla Foods has today (7 August 2007) announced that Hanne Sondergaard will be assuming full responsibility for milk procurement in addition to her role as deputy chief executive of Arla Foods UK plc.

The appointment follows the retirement of Peter Walker at the end of September 2007. Peter has spent most of his working life in the dairy industry and has worked for Arla Foods formerly Express Dairies since 1979.

Peter Lauritzen, chief executive of Arla Foods UK, said: "Peter Walker has made an enormous contribution to the business over 28 years of service and I wish him well in his retirement.

Hanne Sondergaard, Arla's deputy chief executive, said: "These are exciting times for Arla Foods and Arla Foods Milk Partnership and I look forward to working on further strengthening Arla's relationship with UK farmers."

Arla Foods UK plc is home to some of the UK’s leading dairy brands including Cravendale, Lurpak and Anchor. Processing approximately two billion litres of milk a year Arla continues to be one of the UK’s leading dairy companies and a supplier of fresh liquid milk and cream to the top seven retailers.

Over 2,500 daily deliveries are made directly to stores nationwide and Arla brands can be found across the dairy category. As well as the leader of the butter, spreads and margarine sector, and a major supplier of other added value products including flavoured milk and cheese, Arla continues to build working relationships with Arla Foods Milk Partnership, a unique group of dairy farmers, which supplies around 90 per cent of Arla's total milk requirements.

Behind this leading business is a team of circa 2,800 people across the UK located at our dairies, distribution centres and head office.