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Arla Foods is expanding its site in Lockerbie, Scotland, with a new UHT and lactose-free Centre of Excellence, as well as a new anaerobic digestion plant.

The investments come as the dairy cooperative celebrates 50 years since the opening of the Lockerbie site, which has now become one of the UK’s largest cheesemaking facilities.

Following a recent £34 million project to upgrade the site’s cheddar facilities, the new UHT and lactose-free Centre of Excellence is being initiated through a partnership with technology provider SPX Flow, supported by a £90 million investment.

The solution was designed around Arla’s agreed targets for minimising water, energy and waste in line with broader sustainability goals for the dairy industry.

In addition to the Injection UHT solution, the retrofitted Creamery has been upgraded with several other technologies from SPX Flow. These include a Flex-Mix Instant Mixer for vacuum mixing, Q055 Energy-Saving Plate Heat Exchangers, and assorted pumps and valves.

Fran Ball, SVP of UK supply chain at Arla Foods, confirmed that the new Centre of Excellence will bring 90 new roles to the local community. She said: “This is a landmark moment for Lockerbie. As we celebrate 50 years of production, we’re also unlocking the site’s next era with significant investment to power future growth.”

Arla has also nearly completed construction of its second anaerobic digestion plant at the Lockerbie creamery, backed by £20 million. It will help to turn waste from whey permeate – a byproduct from cheesemaking – into renewable energy by supplying bio-methane into the gas grid.

These recent upgrades form part of a wider £144 million investment programme from Arla, spanning several years. The Lockerbie site currently takes in over 600 million litres of milk every year, producing around 200 million litres of fresh bottled milk and 42,000 tonnes of cheese.

Mairi Gougeon, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, opened the new cheddar facilities at the site.

She commented: “Our food and drink industry is uniquely placed to grow the economy, with the Scottish dairy sector valued at more than £560 million in 2024, and this project shows this can be done, whilst also reducing emissions.”.

“The scale of investment here represents a real boost to the local economy, strengthens vital partnerships with Scottish farmers and suppliers, and sends a clear signal of confidence in the future of Scotland’s dairy sector.”