News

In a drive to reduce carbon throughout its operations and support its ambition of being Closer to Nature, Arla Foods is the first dairy processor to include not only its own operations but also those of its supplying members of Arla Foods Milk Partnership in its new environmental strategy.

Arla Foods is to manufacture retail packet butter at Westbury Dairies, from August 2011. The move follows the announcement in September that Arla Foods UK was to become a shareholder with First Milk and Milk Link in Westbury Dairies Limited.

Arla Foods has today (11 October 2010) announced that Ash Amirahmadi, currently the company’s vice president for milk and cream marketing, will join Arla UK’s leadership team with full responsibility for Arla UK’s milk procurement function and will also represent Arla on the Arla Foods Milk Partnership board.

First Milk and Milk Link have announced that they have agreed terms for Arla Foods UK plc (Arla) to become a shareholder in Westbury Dairies Limited, the joint venture company that operates the country’s most modern skimmed milk powder and bulk butter production facility located in Westbury, Wiltshire. In doing so, they have agreed to sell a minority share in the company to Arla.

Arla Foods has today posted a profit of DKK 697 million (£81.2 million) based on a turnover of DKK 23.8 billion (£2.77 billion) for the first half of 2010. Both turnover and earnings increased - but a challenging autumn awaits.

Arla Foods amba has this week confirmed that it is to invest over £150 million in Arla UK’s new dairy on the outskirts of London. At the same time the farmer board of Arla Foods Milk Partnership, Arla UK’s direct milk supply group, has confirmed it is in discussions with the board of Arla Foods amba about making a further investment in the UK business.

Arla Foods UK is to pay an additional 0.5ppl for milk supplied by members of its dedicated supply group, Arla Foods Milk Partnership (AFMP), from 1 June 2010, taking Arla’s standard litre price* to 24.5 pence.

Today Starbucks Coffee and Arla Foods announced the launch of Starbucks Discoveries® chilled coffees and Starbucks Doubleshot® Espresso & Milk drink across the UK. The two new ready-to-drink coffee ranges will hit the shelves in April across retail outlets and in every Starbucks coffeehouse throughout the UK from May.

The global recession has impacted on the entire dairy industry, however, Arla Foods amba’s successful cost reduction programme and a rise in the price for bulk industrial products at the latter end of the year resulted in the company’s 2009 profit totalling DKK 971 million, DKK 71 million higher than budget, exceeding the expectations of the business.

Arla Foods has joined 27 other food manufactures and retailers in signing a grocery industry agreement which aims to cut food and packaging waste and carbon missions.

In 2009, the economic situation forced Arla Foods to make cuts across the business. A new and increased budget for 2010 focuses on marketing, an increase in capacity, as well as efficiency measures.

Arla Foods, Claymore Dairies and North Milk Coop have today reached an agreement whereby Arla and North Milk Coop will sell Claymore Dairies to a management buyout team based at the Nairn facility, for an undisclosed sum, with effect from 1 February 2010.