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Arla Foods has strengthened its UK leadership team with the appointment of Matthew Walker as head of its Foodservice business, aiming to accelerate growth across one of its key channels.

Foodservice is one of Arla’s largest channels outside of retail, supplying milk, butter and cheese to restaurants, coffee shops and food-to-go operators nationwide through its Arla Pro brand. Walker will take up the role this month (January 2026), leading the foodservice division as it builds momentum and deepens partnerships across the hospitality, catering and quick service restaurant sectors.

The appointment comes at a time of strong performance for the division. In the first half of 2025, Arla’s UK Foodservice business delivered year-on-year revenue growth of 15%, equivalent to €29 million (£24 million), while strategic branded, volume-driven revenue increased by 7.6%. The results underline the channel’s growth potential as Arla continues to invest in innovation, sustainability and customer partnerships.

Walker brings 14 years of experience within Arla, having held a range of senior roles across commercial, marketing and brand development functions at both local and global levels. Most recently, he served as head of marketing for Arla Sweden, where he played a key role in strengthening the Arla brand, driving category growth and leading strategic initiatives over the past four years.

“Matthew’s appointment is a great step forward for our UK business, and we’re excited to welcome him to the team,” Bas Padberg, managing director of Arla Foods UK, said. “His deep understanding of Arla, combined with his strong commercial experience and passion for building relationships, will be key as we continue to grow our foodservice presence, deliver value for our partners and provide quality dairy to the hospitality and catering sector.”

In his new role, Walker will focus on expanding Arla’s foodservice customer base and developing strategic partnerships, from sustainability initiatives to new product innovation. This includes investment in manufacturing, such as the company’s mozzarella expansion at its Taw Valley site, alongside continued brand-led innovation across Arla’s core portfolio.

Commenting on his appointment, Walker said: “Foodservice is one of the most dynamic and fast-moving parts of our industry. We have a lot of exciting innovations and milestones in the near future that will allow us to deliver the best ingredients and dairy products to our customers. I’m excited about helping to create the future for British dairy.”

Padberg added that leadership development remains central to Arla’s cooperative model. “As a cooperative owned by our farmers, driving growth and creating value for our owners is at the heart of Arla. Our people are key to this, and I’m delighted that we are securing the right leadership to continue Arla’s success.”